Manickavannar Temple,
Thiruvalaputhur – The Temple
This Temple is facing towards east with an entrance arch. The entrance arch has stucco image of Rishabaroodar flanked by Vinayaga and Murugan. This temple covers an area of about 1.25 acres with three prakarams. All the Mandapams in this temple are designed to look like the forehead of a bat (Vovval Nethi Mandapam). There is a three tiered Rajagopuram adorning the entrance to the inner prakaram.
A front Mandapam can be seen before the Rajagopuram. Mother is called as Brahma Kunthalambigai / Vandamar Poonguzhali. She is housed in a separate south facing shrine. Her Shrine consists of Sanctum, Ardha Mandapam and Maha Mandapam. Her shrine is situated on the right side of the front Mandapam. The Sanctum Sanctorum consists of Sanctum, Artha Mandapam and Maha Mandapam.
Presiding deity is called as Manikka Vannar / Rathnapureeswarar and is facing east. He is housed in the sanctum in the form of Lingam. Lord is a Swayambhu Moorthy (self-manifested). The sanctum sanctorum is of Agazhi type. It is surrounded by a moat like formation on all the 4 sides. Nardana Vinayaga, Dakshinamurthy, Lingodbhava, Brahma and Durga are the Koshta idols located around the sanctum walls.
There are idols of Lord Vishnu and Lord Brahma in a worshipping posture on either side of Lingothbhavar. Devotees can enjoy the darshan of all the three supreme gods of Hinduism (Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva). This is considered to be very auspicious. Mother Durga appears with eight hands with a parrot in her lower left hand and all graceful though holding weapons in hands. Durga is being worshipped first, in this temple.
Dakshinamoorthy Shrine in Koshta is supported by lion pillars. Nandi and Balipeedam can be seen facing his shrine. Meikanda Nayanar Shrine can be found opposite to this shrine. Chandikeswarar Shrine can be seen in his usual location. There is a Nataraja Sabha housing Lord Nataraja and his consort Shivagami in the temple premises. Muyalaga, the symbol of ignorance and a serpent are under the feet of Lord Nataraja.
There are shrines for Gajalakshmi, Saraswathi, Vinayakar, Murugan with his consorts Valli & Devasena, Nalvar, Vasuki, Suryan, Chandran, Bairavar Gurusthanamudaiyar and Saneeswarar in the temple premises. There is no Navagraha shrine in this temple. Sthala Vriksham is Vaagai tree. It can be seen immediately after the entrance arch on the left side in the outer prakaram.
There is a shrine for Vinayakar with 8 serpents called Ashta Naga Vinayagar under the Sthala Vriksham. This Shrine is designed to look like an anthill. Devotees with Naga Dosha worship in this shrine. Theertham associated with this temple is Brahma Theertham. It is situated in front of the temple.
