Kadambavaneswarar Temple,
Kulithalai – The Temple
The Temple is facing north with
five tiered Rajagopuram. The temple has two prakarams (corridors around the
main shrine). There is a mandapam in front of Rajagopuram. The Dwajastambam
passes through the hole made in the roof. Balipeedam and Nandhi are immediately
after the Rajagopuram. The sanctum sanctorum consists of Sanctum, Antarala,
Arthamandapam and a Mukamandapam. Vimana over the sanctum is of Vesara
type. Dindi and Mundi are the Dwarakapalas located at the entrance of the
sanctum.
Presiding
Deity is called as Kadambavaneswarar / Kadambavana Nathar. Lord Shiva graces in the sanctum
as a Vamadeva Swayambhu Linga facing north. Idols of Seven Virgins (Saptha
Kannikas) can be found at the back side of presiding Deity. The main shrine
faces north which is very rare. Hence, it is named as Dakshina Kashi. Vinayaga,
Dakshinamurthy, Lingothbhavar, Brahma and Durga are the Koshta idols located
around the sanctum walls.
Lord Shiva is facing north while
Lord Dakshinamurthy on the Koshta (wall around the sanctum) is facing south.
Lord Chandikeswarar is facing west against traditional south and Lord Brahma is
facing east against traditional north. Lord Lingodbhava is on the Sanctum
Koshta-wall around the shrine. The Ardha mandapam has a slightly bigger idol of
Ganesha.
Mother
is called as Bala Kujalambal / Mutrillamulayal. She is housed in a separate shrine
facing east with a separate Dwajastambam, Nandi and Bali Peedam. Her shrine It
is located outside the Mahamandapam. There is a small bas-relief image of
Paramanathar facing the Goddess shrine. Paramanathar is the guardian deity of
this shrine with his hand on the forehead in a saluting form. People
perform abishek to Paramanathar with honey and offer porridge made of Pasi
corn, praying him to be a guardian of their houses too.
There is a shrine for Anugnai
Vinayaka in the temple premises. It has its Vimana, tower above the sanctum
sanctorum is of Tridala design. Lord Muruga graces
from a shrine in the prakara with his consorts Valli and Deivanai with his six
faces. There is also a separate shrine for Sani Bhagawan (Saturn). There are
two Pancha Loha Idols Natarajas with Muyalagan under one and one
without. Crescent moon shines on the head.
Devotees consider Mother
Chamundi here as Mother Durga. Hence, there is no special shrine for
Mother Durga. Worships to Mother Durga are offered in Shiva shrine
itself. Pujas during Rahukala time are performed to Lord Shiva and
Mother Durga simultaneously. There is a Vahana Mandapam housing the
processional vahanas (vehicles) for the deities with exquisite workmanship in
the Temple premises. It is situated in the inner side, to the east of the second
prakaram. Navaratri Mandapam is situated on the north west corner of the inner
prakaram.
There are shrines for
Viswanathar, Bhairava, Vinayaga, Subramanya with consorts Valli & Deivanai,
Somaskanda, Gajalakshmi, Jeshta Devi, Naalvar, 63 Nayanmars, Nagas, Utsava
Idols, Various Lingams, Surya, Agora Veerabhadra, Sekkizhar, Chandikeswarar, Nataraja
and Navagrahas in the inner prakaram. The Bhairava idol is very popular among
the locals.
The second prakara is an open
space. There are no idols or shrines located here except for Sthala Vriksham
and few idols below the tree. Sthala Vriksham is Kadamba Tree. The temple tank,
Brahma Theertham is situated in the south east corner of the Temple. There is a
path round the temple for the processional chariot. Though the temple is very
old, there is no inscriptions found in temple walls to ascertain the age
/antiquity of the temple.
