Sundararaja Perumal Temple, Sitharkadu – The Temple
The east
facing temple has a beautiful five tier Raja gopura with a lot of interesting
stucco images. The temple is spread across one acre of land. Presiding Deity is
called as Sundararaja Perumal. He is housed in east facing sanctum with his two
consorts Sri Devi and Bhoo Devi on his either sides. All of them are found in
the standing postures. The bali peetha, tall flag staff and Garuda shrine are
found facing towards the sanctum. The Dwarapalas at the entrance of the sanctum
look gigantic and interesting.
The
idols of Tirumazhisai Alwar, Nammalvar, Tirumangai Alwar, Senai Mudaliyar and
Ramanujar are situated in the Mahamandapam. The Utsava metal idols of
Sundararaja Perumal with his two consorts, Achyuta, Ananta, Nardana Krishna,
Sudarshan, Tirumazhisai Alwar, Nammalvar, Tirumangai Alwar, Senai Mudaliyar and
Ramanuja are situated in a separate shrine in the Mahamandapam area.
Tirumazhisai Alwar is very prominent and big.
The
temple has two prakaras around the sanctum. In the outer prakara, the shrines
of the Goddess Sundaravalli and Andal are located. Both the shrines
have beautiful vimanas and the front side mandapams full of sculpted
pillars. The Kalyana Mandapam which is found near the flag staff has many
pillars with beautiful sculptures. There is a small shrine of Nardana Krishna
located in the temple. The shrine of Hanuman is found outside the temple
complex and it faces the Raja gopuram. A big tank is found between this temple
and Shiva temple of this village.
The sculpture of Garudakkodi Siddhar found in
a pillar in the mandapam of Andal shrine has
become very popular among the devotees nowadays. He is sitting in rare posture
having a jar (like Kamandalam) in one hand and holding a creeper called
Garudakkodi. It is believed that this Siddha lived in
this village and was a great devotee of Garuda. It is believed that a prayer to
this Garudakkodi Siddhar will cure all eye related problems. Abhishekam is
performed with rose water to the statue of Garudakkodi Siddhar and this water
is applied on the eyes for relief. Sandalwood paste applied on the siddhar's
idol is also applied on the eyes.
Near the
shrine of Andal, the Tulsi plant and Amla (Nelli) tree are found together. It
is believed that if the childless couple perform the marriage of these two plants,
they would beget children. For those who wish to get married would also get
their wish fulfilled by following the same ritual.
There are 17 relief images of Narasimha in different postures found in various pillars throughout the temple. Narasimhar in a standing posture is very attractive and graceful. Inscriptions found in this temple refer to it as Thirumandram Hariharanalayanallur.
