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Sunday, August 25, 2019

Viswanatha Swamy Temple, Thepperumanallur – The Temple

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.