Ganga Jadeswarar
Temple, Govindhaputhur – The Temple
This is an east facing Temple
with an entrance arch. The entrance arch has a stucco image of Kamadhenu
worshipping Shiva Linga. The Temple has two prakarams. Nandi and Balipeedam can
be found before the sanctum sanctorum facing the Lord. The Sanctum Sanctorum
consists of Front Mandapam, Maha Mandapam, Artha Mandapam and Sanctum. Pillars
of the front Mandapam resembles Pallava style.
Presiding Deity is called as Ganga
Jadeswarar (one who has the Ganga in his locks) / Vijayanathar / Gangaleeswarar
and is facing east. He is housed in the sanctum in the form of Lingam. Mother
is called as Mangala Nayagi. She is housed in a separate south facing shrine in
the outer prakaram. Her Shrine is situated to the right side of the sanctum.
She is in standing posture.
Vasantha Mandapam can be seen to
the right side of Mother shrine. Shrines and Idols of Navagrahas, Chandran,
Suryan, Bhairavar and Ambalavanar can be found in the Maha Mandapam. There are
about nine Koshta idols around the sanctum walls. Shrines and Idols of Saptha
Mathas, Dakshinamoorthy, Ganapathy, Durga, Rajaraja Chola along with his
consort, Muruga, Gajalakshmi and Chandikeswarar can be found in the inner
prakaram around the sanctum.
The shrine of Pralayamkatta
Vinayakar (the one who saved the earth during deluge) is in the inner
prakaram. Thirumanjana Kinaru (Well) can be found near
Chandikeswarar Shrine. Sculpture of Durga Devi with the Prayoga Chakram (the
killer wheel) in her right hand and the benign smile on Lord Nataraja's face
are architectural masterpiece. A damaged statue of Jyeshta Devi is found inside
the compound of the nearby school.
Sculptures of Kamadhenu
worshipping Shiva Linga, Indra worshipping Lingam, Arjuna penance, Kiratarjuna
Scene and Brahmins worshipping Shiva Linga can be found in the western wall of
the sanctum. The walls of the temple are full of inscriptions from the Chola,
Pandya and Vijayanagara periods. Arjuna Theertham can be found opposite to
the Temple.
