Alanduraiyar Temple, Keezha
Pazhuvur – The Temple
The
temple is facing east with a three tier Rajagopuram. There is an entrance
arch at the road itself. Nandi can be found on either side of the entrance
arch. The
Temple is having 2 corridors (prakarams). Balipeedam and Nandhi can be
found immediately after the Rajagopuram facing the sanctum. The Sanctum
sanctorum consists of sanctum, Arthamandapam and Muha Mandapam. The Sanctum is
of single tier with a spherical Shikara. Sanctum is of square shape (14 ft.).
The Ardhamandapam projects
6 ft. forward east to west. Further up, there is the mukhamandapa extending
further east by 29 ft. There are two old dvarapalas in front of the Ardhamandapam. Presiding Deity is called
as Alanduraiyar / Vadamoolanathar / Vadamooleswarar / Yogavaneswarar. He is
housed in the sanctum in the form of Shiva Lingam. Lord Shiva is Swayambumurthi
here. On Tamil month Panguni 18th day Suryan worship Lord Shiva through
his light.
A fragrant oil (Sambirani Thailam)
is applied on the Shivalinga. As the Shivalinga is made of sand and too small,
a cup is placed upside down to facilitate darshan. Abishek is performed to this
cup only. The Vimana is of Vesara style on the sanctum. The kudus on the cornice have, in
the centre, figures of Tripurantaka and Linga with worshippers. There is an idol of Mother Parvathi
in meditation posture. Her posture is like doing Thapas on single leg. It is
found in the right side of Artha Mandapam.
As a custom in Shiva Temples,
Gajalakshmi may be seen in the entrance of sanctum. Here, there is a sculpture
of the Ananta Sayana pose of Vishnu (i.e.,
reclining on the serpent-couch) on the lintel over the gateway of Artha Mandapa. It is popularly believed that
it represents Parasurama engaged in penance in expiation
of the sin of having killed his mother (at his father’s bidding).
Bronze idols of Rishabhavahanar,
Tripurantaka, Dancing Balasubramanya and Sundaramurti are examples of Chola
workmanship. Rishaba Vahanar is one of the earliest and grandest metal images
of the Chola period. Another bronze of Tripurantaka from the same temple is
also worth mention among early Chola bronzes. There is a bronze idol of
Chandikeswarar doing Shiva Pooja is available in the
temple.
The devakoshtas have Dakshinamurti in the
south, Lingodbhava in the west and Brahma in the north. Of
these, Lingodbhava presents a magnificent panel of 3 figures. Brahma on the
north side is slightly damaged. Over the devakoshta containing Dakshinamurti, there is a makara-torana with
the figure of Nataraja in its
centre. The toranas over the
other devakoshtas contain
sculptures of Yoga Narasimha, Gaja Samhara Murti, Parthasarathy and Arjuna, Vishnu in a
reclining posture and the worship of a Linga by two persons.
Images of Ganesha and Durga adorn the
niches in the Ardhamandapam.
Sculptures of Kala Samhara Murti, Ardhanarishvara, Kalyana Sundaramurti, Gangala
Murti and Bhairavar can be found in the Mukhamandapam. Among the sculptures in the mukhamandapa,
Ardhanarishvara is in a striking pose with the attendant bull.
Idols of Durga, Chandikeswarar,
Sambandar, Appar, Dakshinamurti,
Saptharishis, and Saptamatrikas flanked
by Ganesha and Virabhadra can be found in
the roofed corridor around the sanctum. It is believed that some of idols should
have originally been the images of the shrines. Mother
is called as Arundhavanayagi / Yogathapasvini / Mahathapasvini. Mother
shrine is on the right side of the sanctum and is facing south. Her shrine is
like a separate temple with a single prakaram.
Shrines and idols of Kamala
Ganapathy, Maha Lakshmi, Murugan, 63 Nayanmars, Kasi Viswanathar with his
consort Visalakshi, Pancha Bootha Lingas, Gajalakshmi, Thirunavukkarasar and Thirugnana
Sambandar can be found in the
Temple premises. There is no Navagraha shrine in this
Temple. Sthala Vriksham is Banyan tree. It can be found outside the
Temple premises. Theerthams associated with this
Temple are Brahma Theertham, Parasurama Theertham and Kollidam River.
