Viswanatha Swamy Temple,
Thepperumanallur – The Temple
This temple is a very old one
and it is constructed in such a way that most of the rules of temple
architecture are not followed here. Even the deities in this temple
appear differently. Hence this temple is called Bedham Koil (different
temple). Though the temple faces East, the entrance to the main
shrine is from the back. The shrine of Vinayaka is on the backside of the
main shrine. Mahavishnu’s shrine is in a place where normally one finds
Brahma.
Presiding Deity is called as
Vishwanatha Swamy / Naga Vishwanathar / Rudraksheswarar. He is housed in the
sanctum in the form of Lingam and is facing east. This is the only temple where
Lord Shiva is covered with Rudraksha Kavacha. This is the only temple
where Archana to Lord Shiva is done with Rudraksha – Archana with eka
mukha to 12 mukha Rudrakshas. The Power of this Linga is said to
be the combination of all the 12 Jyothirlingas in India and therefore
unique.
The sanctum is seen as being
pulled by a chariot with wheels. Lord Nandhi graces from the Mahamandapam in
the eastern entrance. Nandi in this Temple has only one ear. He is facing the
sanctum. This is one of the rare temples where the Sunrays fall on the Lord
every day. The eastern side of the main shrine is constructed in such a
way that it acts like a window through which the sunlight falls on the
Lingam. Only after the Sun has his darshan, the doors of the shrine
(not the eastern one which is always kept locked) are opened for the other
devotees to see the Lord.
It is also believed that a Jade
stone in fixed on the Avudai of the Lingam and when the Sunrays fall on the
Lord, the entire sanctum becomes very bright by the reflected
light. The main shrine is believed to be constructed by a mixture of
honey and lime. The Dakshinamurthy on the Southern side of the main shrine is
also an unusual Murthy. He faces South west direction and is sitting on a
Nandi without any disciples or Muyalagan at his feet.
The Dakshinamurthy Idol is
unique and is considered more powerful and boon bestowing than Alangudi. The
Neivedhyam here is Pazhaya Sadam (the rice cooked the previous day and immersed
in water). This is the only temple where such an offering is
made. As per local legends, when one prays to him sincerely, will
get food, apart from knowledge and hence he is called Annadhana
Murthy.
Mother is called as Vedanta
Nayaki. She is housed in a separate south facing shrine. Her shrine is situated
on Maha Mandapam. Mother is seen in a unique posture with her right leg
slightly ahead of the left. As she is seen chanting the Vedas, she is referred
to here as Vedanta Nayaki. Devotees perform Kumkuma Archana on Friday to get
hurdles removed in fixing marriages.
There is a shrine containing two
Bhairavas - the smaller Shanta Bhairavar and the other one is a nearly 5 ft
Maha Bhairavar near the Mother shrine. There is a special shrine for Sani
Bhagavan who stands proudly with his hand on his hips by the side of the
Bhairava shrine. There is a shrine for Lord Murugan with his consorts Valli
& Deivanai on the North west side of the temple.
There is an unusual Ganapathi
shrine in this temple called Kapala Ganapathi. This shrine is in the
southwest segment of the main prakaram. Ganesa is having eyes in
the centre of the face (unlike the normal Ganesa whose eyes are on the sides)
and his hands, legs, fingers and toes would appear to be like those of humans. He
is wearing a garland of skulls on his waist.
Mahavishnu appears on the
Northern Koshta wall. There is a separate Vishnu temple near this
place. During Navaratri celebrations, there is a belief that Vishnu
gives gifts to his sister Parvathi and her husband for which function both
Shiva and Parvathi visit the Perumal Temple on the last day of Navaratri. Since
Perumal had honoured Shiva in such a way, as a mark of respect, he is given a
place on the Koshta wall of this temple.
The other unusual features
include two Chandikeswaras in a single shrine, the large one facing south and
the smaller one facing east. Similarly, there are two Durgas in this
temple. The one near the Chandikeswarar shrine is the Vishnu Durgai with
four arms and the other one on the back side of the Mother shrine, is the
normal Durgai with eight arms. There is a temple tank called Brahma
Theertham on the eastern side of the Temple. Sthala Vriksham is Vilwa Tree.
