Chinthamaneeswarar Temple, Karungali – The Temple
This
Temple should have been a large temple based on the fact that so many of the
structures are outside the sanctum sanctorum. This is an east facing temple
with no Rajagopuram or compound wall with old temple pillars as fence
posts. The temple is beautifully located with the river on one side
and the sea on the other side. Presiding Deity is called as Chinthamaneeswarar
and is facing east.
Lord
Shiva has five faces and they are Isanam, Thatpurusham, Vaamadevam,
Sathyojaatham and Agoram. This temple represents the Agoram. All the
five temples are on the banks of this river Kosasthalaiyar River
(Brahmarayanya) and this temple is on the place where the river merges with
sea. Nagabaranam adds beauty to the Shiva Lingam. Dwarapalakas are seen
guarding outside the sanctum.
The
Vimana above the sanctum is built in Gajabrushta shape to look like the back of
a sleeping elephant which in Thamizh is called Thoonganai Maadam, a Pallava
style of temple architecture. Nandhi is seen facing the Lord towards the
sanctum. Lord Ganesha (Vinayakar) and Muruga are present on either side of
the sanctum with the names, Chinthamani Vinayagar and Chinthamani Murugar
respectively.
Mother
is called as Sivagami Ambal / Sivakamavalli and she is housed in a shrine facing
south. There is also a Simha Vaahana facing the Goddess. Adjacent to Ambal,
there is another small Shiva Lingam present with another Nandhi. There are
also other deities like Dhandayuthapani (Murugan), Mahavishnu, Nagar and Durgai
next to each other, present in the same shrine.
On the
north-eastern side outside the sanctum, there is a separate shrine for Kaala
Bhairavar. This temple is also considered a Bhairava Kshethra where people
worship Lord Bhairavar for a sooner marriage and other wishes. There is a
shrine for Navagrahas in the Temple. The speciality of
this temple is that, it has sea in the front side, a river behind it and forest
on the other side. It is a very rare sight to see a temple amidst such a
natural setting.
