Sundareswarar Temple,
Thirukattalai – The Temple
This temple is facing towards east. The temple is constructed in Ashta Parivara style where eight subsidiary shrines are placed around the sanctum. Nandi and Balipeedam can be found facing the sanctum. Provision for Dhwaja Sthambam can be seen in between Nandi and Balipeedam. The Sanctum Sanctorum consists of Sanctum, Antrala and Mukha Mandapam. Dwarapalakas can be seen guarding the sanctum. Presiding Deity is called as Sundareswarar and is facing towards east. He is housed in the sanctum in the form of Lingam.
The sanctum is square on plan. The Vimana over the sanctum is of two tiers and square in shape. Tripurantaka, Vishnu and Brahma are the niche idols in the deva koshta around the sanctum. Bikshadana, Vishnu and Brahma are Koshta idols located around the Shala of the vimana. Uma Mahesvara, Veenadhara Dakshinamoorthy, Lakshmi Varaha and Brahma are the koshta idols located around the griva of the vimana.
Mother is called as Mangala Nayagi. She is housed in a separate south facing shrine. There is a shrine for Surya in the south east corner of the temple. It houses an idol of Surya inside the shrine. He is depicted holding two lotuses in his two hands and riding his chariot drawn by seven horses. Shrine for Sapta Matrikas can be found next to the Surya Shrine on the southern side. This shrine is oblong in shape.
There is a shrine for Vinayaga in the south west corner of the temple. Subramanya shrine can be seen next to the Vinayaga shrine on the western side. There is a shrine for Jyestha in the north west corner of the temple. She is shown accompanied with Gomukha and a lady attendant. Her mount, crow can be seen on her right side. Shrine for Chandra can be seen next to the Jyestha shrine on northern side. Usually, Chandikeswarar shrine is situated in this location.
Chandikeswarar Shrine can be seen next to the Chandran shrine little towards north eastern side. There is a shrine for Bhairava in the north eastern corner of the temple. He is shown with four hands holding trisula and snake. His mount, dog, can be seen behind him. All these subsidiary shrines are attached to the outer wall of the temple. These arrangements are quite unusual in the architectural styles prescribed in the Shilpa Sastra.
