Amirtha Kalasa Nathar Temple,
Sakkottai, Kumbakonam – The Temple
This east facing temple has a
single corridor and its main entrance is without tiers. There is a beautiful
sculpture depicting Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvathy flanked by Lord Murugan and
Vinayaga in the entrance arch. However, it has a 3-tiered tower at the second
entrance. The temple has a moat both inside and outside its surrounding walls. The
present masonry structure was built during the Chola
dynasty in the 9th century, while later expansions
are attributed to Thanjavur Nayaks.
The front hall (Mandapam) of
this temple is designed to look like the forehead of a bat (Vovval Nethi
Mandapam). Sculptures of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvathy in wedding form can be
seen in this Mandapam. The front hall houses the Nandi and Bali Peeta. Presiding
Deity is called as Amirtha Kalasa Nathar / Amirthakadeswarar. He is housed in
the sanctum in the form of Lingam. He is facing east. Lord Shiva in this temple
is a Swayambumurthi (self-manifested).
Arthanareeswarar, Dakshinamurthy,
Lingothbhava, Brahma and Durga are the Koshta Idols located around the sanctum
walls. The idol of Dakshinamurthy here is different when compared to the
postures seen in other Shiva temples. It is depicted with four hands - the
upper right holding a bead made of Rudraksha,
the upper left holding Agni (fire), the lower right holding
Chinmudra and lower left holding palm leaves. There is also a halo around his
head (Surya Prabhai). The Kallala tree (Peepal) behind him is also very big.
The idol of Lingothbhavar looks
very beautiful and it is made out of green colour stone. Lingodbhava is
situated behind the sanctum sanctorum, on either sides of Lord Lingothbhavar,
there are idols of Lord Mahavishnu and Lord Brahma in a worshipping posture.
Devotees can enjoy the darshan of all the three lords (Trimurthys) – Brahma,
Vishnu and Shiva. This is considered to be very auspicious. The image of Ardhanarishvara is
depicted with his right leg in relaxing posture. Chandikeswarar Shrine can be seen
in his usual location.
Mother
is called as Amirthavalli. She is housed in a separate south facing shrine. Her
shrine is situated in the north of Maha Mandapam. North of the Maha Mandapam
are the shrines of Lord Dhandapani (Muruga in a small size) and Lord Nardana
Vinayaka on the south. There is a separate shrine in the name of Thapas Amman
in the corridor. (Thapas means penance in Tamil). The Thapas Amman is standing on
her right leg, her left leg is bent, her right hand is placed on her head and
her left hand on her stomach. This is a beautiful posture of penance.
There is a Saptamatrikas sculpted
in a single panel and image of Tapsvi Amman. There are shrines for Naalvar,
Navagrahas, Vayu lingam, Prithvi lingam, Theyu lingam, Lord Murugan with his
consorts Valli & Deivanai, Gajalakshmi, Bhairavar, Bikshadana, Chandra, Suryan,
Saneeswarar, Rahu and Sage Sakkiya Nayanar can be seen in the main hall and
corridors. The temple tank associated with it is called Chaturveda Theertham
(Naalveda Theertham). Sthala Vriksham is Vanni Tree.
