Aiyarappar Temple,
Mayiladuthurai – The Temple
This Temple is facing towards west with three tiered Rajagopuram. Stucco dvarapalas can be found at the entrance of the Rajagopuram. There is an entrance arch at the beginning of the road leading to this temple. This entrance arch has stucco images of Rishabaroodar flanked by Murugan and Vinayaga. Stucco images of Lord Shiva and Parvathy in Kailasa can be seen immediately after the Rajagopuram on the right side.
The temple tank can be seen immediately after the
Rajagopuram on the right side. Padithurai Vinayagar Shrine can be seen on the
banks of the temple tank. Navaratri Kolu Mandapam and Thiru Kalyana Arangam can
be seen immediately after the Rajagopuram on the left side. Balipeedam, Nandi
and Dhwaja Sthambam can be seen immediately after the Rajagopuram in the outer
prakaram, facing the sanctum.
Kodimara Vinayagar can be seen in front of the Balipeedam facing towards west. There is another three tiered gopuram at the entrance to inner prakaram. Stucco dvarapalas can be found at the entrance of the gopuram. The Sanctum Sanctorum consists of Sanctum, Ardha Mandapam and Maha Mandapam. Mother is called as Aram Valartha Nayagi. She is housed in a separate south facing shrine.
Her shrine is situated to the right side of the sanctum
in Maha Mandapam. Stucco Dwarapalakis can be seen at the entrance of her
shrine. She is housed in the shrine in standing posture. She is four armed
holding Shanka garland in upper right hand, lotus in her upper left hand and
lower hands show abhaya and varada hasta.
Palliayarai can be seen next to her shrine. There is a south facing Nataraja shrine in the Ardha Mandapam. It houses a granite idol of Nataraja with his consort Shivagami. The Sanctum is guarded by Dwarapalakas. Presiding deity is called as Aiyarappar and is facing west. He is housed in the sanctum in the form of Lingam.
Vinayaga, Dakshinamoorthy, Ardhanareeswarar, Brahma and
Durga are the koshta idols located around the sanctum walls. Chandikeswarar
Shrine can be seen in his usual location. Shrines of Vinayagar, Then Kayilai Nathar,
Vada Kayilai Nathar, Murugan with his consorts Valli & Devasena, Vishnu and
Gajalakshmi can be seen in the western side of inner prakaram.
Idols of Bhairavar, Saneeswarar, Balamurugan and Navagrahas Shrine can be seen on eastern side of the inner prakaram. Idols of 63 Nayanmars, Saraswathi and Madapalli can be seen on the southern side of the inner prakaram. Sthala Vriksham is Vilwam tree. It is situated on the southern side of the inner prakaram.
