Airavatheswarar Temple, Nemam
– The Temple
This is an east facing Temple. The
Temple architecture follows a mix of Pallava and Chola styles. Pallava Era
Nandi and Bali Peedam can be found facing the sanctum. Nandi in this Temple can
be found in an underground pit. This Pit is about 3 feet deep. The Sanctum
Sanctorum consists of Maha Mandapam, Artha Mandapam and Sanctum.
Presiding Deity is called as
Airavatheswarar / Parijatha Vaneswarar / Brahmapureeswarar / Indirapureeswarar and
is facing east. He is housed in the sanctum in the form of Lingam. The sanctum sanctorum
is of Agazhi type – Agazhi is a deep-water canal about 3 ft
deep and two feet wide. Koshta Idols of Vishnu and Brahma are ancient idols,
can be dated back to Pallava Period.
Mother is called as
Alangaravalli. She is housed in a separate south facing shrine. Her shrine is
situated in the Maha Mandapam. Her shrine is actually two shrines combined
together. One houses Alangaravalli and the other houses Adhi Alangaravalli.
Idols and shrines of Vinayaga, Lord Murugan with his consorts Valli &
Deivanai, Navagrahas, Chandikeswarar, Bhairavar and Suryan can be found in the
temple premises.
There are two inscriptions found
in this Temple. One inscription is dated to 24th regnal year
of Rajakesarivarman, i.e., Aditya Chola I. It mentions a gift of five
Kalanju of gold by Adigal Kandan Marambavai, the queen of the Pallava King
Nandivarman III. The other inscription is a much-damaged inscription
dated to 18th regnal year of Parantaka Chola I on a stone slab built into a
doorway of the south wall of the temple.
