Sadaiyar Temple,
Thiruchennampoondi – The Temple
This is an old east facing
temple. Nandhi can be found facing sanctum, on the base of a platform of the
old Mukha Mandapam. Nandi of this Temple is called as Karunai Nandi. The pillars
of this Muka mandapam is dumped on the north side of the temple. The Sanctum Sanctorum
consists of Sanctum, Antarala and Artha Mandapam. Only the base of the Mukha mandapam
is exists now. Presiding Deity is called as Sadaimudinathar / Sadaiyar / Thirukadaimudi
Mahadevar / Thiruchadaimudi Mahadevar.
He is housed in the sanctum in
the form of Lingam. He is facing east. The Lingam in this Temple is unique as
it has got lot of thread like features (hair strands (Jadai)) in its circumference.
Lingam is about 4.5 feet high. It is housed in an Avudaiyar of about 2.2 feet
circumference and 2.5 feet high. Veena Dakshinamoorthy, Durga, Brahma, Vishnu
and Vinayaga are the Koshta idols located around the sanctum walls.
Mother is called as Siddambikai.
She is housed in a separate south facing shrine. She is about 5 feet tall. She
is called by this name as any prayers offered to her result in the fulfillment
of the desire of the devotee. Her idol is also unique. While the two lower
hands show the Abhaya and Varada Mudras, the two upper hands have Shanku
(conch) and Mace (Gatha). This is surprising since the last two are generally
associated only with Vishnu, whereas this is a Shiva temple.
Chandikeswarar can be found in
his usual location (i.e. on the north side near Komukham). He is called as
Sandana Chandikeswarar. Sandalwood Smell emanates from this idol while doing
abhishekam. He is having two hands. One hand is holding Parasu and other
showing Dolahastha. Lord Vinayagar of this Temple was called as Karpagamoorthy
Vinayagar. There is no idol of Vinayaga in this Temple at present. It is
believed that this idol was taken away by the flood.
It is also believed that Bala
Kumaran, Murugan Idol of this temple also washed away by the floods. There was
a unique shrine dedicated to Siva Sadaiyappar in this Temple. This Idol is also
got washed away in the floods. Another Unique aspect about this temple is it has
got no Navagraha Shrine because Lord Siva is placed in such a manner that it
comes with 90◦ radius with all the Navagraha
temples.
This Temple is well known for
its sculptures and miniature stone panels. Many of them depicts Ramayana
scenes. Imprisonment of Seetha in Ashoka Vanam is the unique carving among the
all. It is believed that there are statues, buried under the earth. Also, the temple
has got lot of yantras with great spiritual powers which are kept under the old
temple.