Abathsahayeswarar Temple, Aduthurai – The Temple

Abathsahayeswarar Temple, Aduthurai – The Temple

This Temple is facing towards east with three tiered Rajagopuram and has two prakarams. Nandi and Balipeedam can be found immediately after the Rajagopuram. There is no Dhwaja Sthambam (flag staff) in the temple but a place for flag staff is available. The sanctum sanctorum consists of Sanctum, Antarala and Artha Mandapam.

Presiding Deity is called as Abathsahayeswarar and is facing east. He is housed in the sanctum in the form of Shiva Lingam. Lord is a Swayambhu Murthy. It is believed that Lord Suryan (Sun) worships Lord Shiva of this temple by directing his rays on the Lingam for three days in the Tamil month of Chithirai 5 to 7 (April-May).

The sanctum is constructed in such a way that on the 5^th, 6^th and 7^th day of Tamil month Chithirai, Sun’s rays fall on the water of Surya Theertham and the reflection falls on the Lord in the sanctum. Mostly in other temples, the Sun rays directly fall on the Lord but here the reflection fall on Lord. The sanctum sanctorum is of Agazhi type. It is surrounded by a moat like formation on all the 4 sides.

The Vimana over the sanctum follows Vesara style. Narthana Vinayaga, Agasthya, Nataraja, Dakshinamurthy, Lingothbhava, Bramha, Gangadhara, Bikshadana and Durga are the Koshta idols located around the sanctum walls. Mother is called as Pavalakkodi Ammai / Vandar Karumenkuzhal Mangai. She is housed in a separate south facing shrine. Her shrine is situated in the outer prakaram.

There is a shrine for Navagrahas in the inner prakaram. All the planets in the shrine are facing Lord Suryan. There are shrines and idols of Gajalakshmi, Indralingam, Kuberalingam, Chandikeswarar, Chandikeswari, Suryan, Chandran, Mootha Vinayakar, Lord Murugan with his consorts Valli & Deivanai, Somaskandar, Nalvar, Vayumurthy, Mahaganapathy and Kasi Vinayakar in the Temple premises.

There are shrines for Viswanathar along with his consort Visalakshi, Vinayagar and Murugan in the outer prakaram. There is a shrine for Lord Nataraja with his consort Shivagami in the outer prakaram. There is a hall next to Nataraja Shrine. This Hall houses the shrines of Saneeswarar, Banalingam, Saint Harathathar and Sorna Akarshana Bairavar.

There is a stucco image depicting the Sthala purana of Sugriva worshiping Lord Shiva, Lord Shiva changing Sugriva to a swan and Sugriva wife to Parijada Tree in the Mandapam. There are sculptures depicting Karaikal Ammaiyar worshiping Lord Abathsahayeswarar and Queen Chembian Maadevi worshiping Lord Abathsahayeswarar. 

There is a hall named Appar Arangam where the temple festivals are performed. Theertham associated with this Temple are Sahaya Theertham and Surya Theertham. Sthala Vriksham is Pavazha Malli tree. Stone inscriptions from the Chera and Chola period have been found in this temple.