Pralayanathar Temple, Sholavandan – The Temple
The
Temple is an old temple facing east nicely renovated and the campus is very
cleanly maintained. Presiding Deity is called as Pralayanathar and is facing
east. The Lingam is Bana lingam. There is an Idol for Pushpakesi Amman near the
Lord. Narthana Vinayagar, Guru Dakshinamurthy, Trimurthy, Brahma and Durga are
the Koshta Idols located around the sanctum walls.
Chandikeswara
is found in his usual location. Lord Dakshinamurthy blesses devotees from the
Goshta wall facing south right of Lord’s shrine. Mother is called as Soundara
Nayaki / Pralaya Nayaki and she is facing east. Icha, Kriya and Gyana Sakthi are
the Koshta Idols located around Amman Shrine. Shrines of Lord and Mother are
situated adjacent to each other with individual Nandhis before them.
Behind
Lord’s shrine are Lords Valampuri Vinayaka, Muruga with his consorts Valli and
Deivanai, Hanuman and Mother Mahalakshmi on the right side and Mother Vishnu
Durga on the left. Shrines for Navagrahas the nine planets and Lord Bhairava
are before the sanctum sanctorum. Vinayaka is praised as Lord Bala Vinayaka.
Lord
Muruga is the special deity of the temple. During the six-day Skanda Sashti
festival, special pujas and abishekams are offered. On the 7th day, they
prepare curd rice with 40 measures of rice and celebrate ‘Tiru Pavadai
Dharisanam”. Lord Bhairava enjoys his
own importance. People use to break the nuts of the Vilwa tree, make cups and
light lamps, known as Vilwa Deepa. This prayer brings them success in
litigations if their case is just and fair.
Devotees
apply butter on Anjaneya behind the sanctum sanctorum and take the butter as
Prasad and consume it then for cure from prolonged illness. There are shrines
for Veppamara Siddhar, Saneeswaralingam and Kasi Lingam in the Temple premises.
Theertham associated with this Temple is Vaigai river and Sthala Vriksham is Vilwa
Tree.
