Chozheeswarar Temple, Sirupakkam, Cuddalore
Chozheeswarar Temple is a Hindu Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva located in Sirupakkam Village in Thitagudi Taluk in Cuddalore District of Tamil Nadu. Presiding Deity is called as Chozheeswarar and Mother is called as Kamalambigai. The Temple is believed to be 1000 years old and belonged to Chola Period.
The Temple
This Temple is facing towards east, but the entrance arch is facing towards west. Nandi, Balipeedam and Dhwaja Sthambam can be seen facing the sanctum. Nandi is facing the sanctum through window. The entrance to the sanctum is from southern side. The Sanctum Sanctorum consists of Sanctum, Artha Mandapam and Maha Mandapam.
Presiding Deity is called as Chozheeswarar and is facing east. He is housed in the sanctum in the form of Lingam. Vinayaga, Dakshinamoorthy, Lingodbhava, Brahma and Durga are the koshta idols located around the sanctum wall. Mother is called as Kamalambigai. She is housed in a separate east facing shrine. Her shrine is situated to the left side of the sanctum. Her shrine consists of Sanctum and Artha Mandapam.
Nandi and Balipeedam can be seen facing her shrine. There are shrines for Vinayaga, Murugan, Bhairavar, Navagrahas, Suryan and Chandran in the temple premises. Sthala Vriksham is Vilwa tree. There is a stucco image of Lord Shiva can be seen below the Vilwa tree. An inscription dated to 1128 CE belonged to Vikrama Chola can be seen in the temple premises.
Connectivity
The Temple is located at about 200 metres from
Sirupakkam Bus Stand, 21 Kms from Veppur, 21 Kms from Thozhuthur, 23 Kms from
Chinna Salem Railway Station, 28 Kms from Thittagudi, 39 Kms from Virudhachalam
and 108 Kms from Trichy Airport. The Temple is situated on Virudhachalam to
Salem route.