Kampaheswarar
Temple, Thirubuvanam – The Temple
The temple is facing towards east with 7-tiered Rajagopuram and has two prakarams. The Temple covers an area of about 5.5 acres. Kambatthadi Vinayagar, Dwajastambam, Balipeedam and Nandhi can be found immediately after the Rajagopuram. There is a three-tiered Gopuram at the entrance of the inner prakaram. Adhikara Nandhi is situated on the left side of this entrance. The Sanctum Sanctorum consists of Sanctum, Antarala, Artha Mandapam, Maha Mandapam, Mukha Mandapam and Somaskandar Mandapam.
The Sanctum Sanctorum is built over a raised platform similar to Mada Kovil style. The Sanctum is square on plan. Presiding Deity is called as Kampaheswarar / Kampahareswarar / Nadukkam Theertha Nayagan / Thirubhuvana Eswarar / Thirubhuvana Mahadevar and is facing east. He is housed in the sanctum in the form of Lingam. Lord is a Swayambhu Murthy. Bikshadana, Dakshinamurthy, Lingothbhava, Brahma and Durga are the Koshta Idols located around the sanctum walls.
The Vimana is about 126 feet high with 7 tiers. An unusual feature of the temple is that the vimana is extremely high unlike other South Indian temples. The architecture of the temple is similar to the Big Temple at Thanjavur, Airavatesvara Temple at Darasuram and Gangai Konda Chola Puram temples. The distinct features of all the temples is the vimana, the structure over the sanctum, being taller than the gateway tower, which is an unusual feature in south Indian temples.
Mother is called as Dharmasamvardhini / Aram Valartha Nayaki. She is housed in an east facing shrine. Her shrine is situated to the left side of the sanctum. Mother graces the devotees with Abhaya Mudra ensuring protection with one hand and holding lotus flower and Akshamala in other hands in a standing posture. The peeta (dais) is called Odyanapeeta and Padma Peeta.
There is a separate shrine for Sarabeswarar, a fusion of man, eagle and lion, in the temple premises. This Shrine is situated opposite to Mother shrine. He is facing towards south. Utsava (metallic) idol, Sarabeswarar is situated in this shrine. Sarabeswarar will normally be seen only in pillars in all the temples. This is the only place where he is having a big and exclusive shrine. This Shrine is considered as Adhi (first) Sarabeswarar Shrine.
Sarabeswarar is seen with his consorts Soolini and Prathiyangara. He is about 7 feet tall. The deity is believed to have relieved the devas (celestial beings) from the fury of Lord Vishnu in the form of Narasimha after he slayed Hiranyakasipu. He is seen with three legs, with body and face of a lion and a tail. It has four human arms, the right upper hand holds axe, noose is held in the lower right hand, the deer in the upper left hand and fire in the lower left hand.
Narasimha is shown with eight arms, flaying and struggling under the feet of Sarabeswarar. The shrine has sculptures of Sridevi and Bhudevi, the consorts of Vishnu. Dwarapalakis can be found at the entrance of this shrine. He gives relief from bad evils, fear, court cases, debts and other difficulties. Sunday Ragu kalam (4:30 to 6 PM) is the best time to worship him.
There are shrines for Sapta Matrikas, Lord Murugan with his consorts Valli & Deivanai, Nataraja, Chandikeswarar, Bhairavar and Navagrahas in the temple premises. Few loose sculptures can be found in the temple premises. There are sculptures of different Bharatanatyam poses in the southern side of the Somaskandar mandapam.
Yali, a mythical creature with
the face of a lion, which is otherwise considered a symbol of Nayak
architecture has its earliest representation in Chola art in the temple. There
are numerous paintings and sculptures in the temple depicting scenes from
Ramayana and Mahabharata. There are about nine Theerthams associated with this
Temple. The most prominent among them is Saraba Theertham. Sthala Vriksham is
Vilwa tree.
