Vyagrapureeswarar Temple,
Thiruvengaivasal – The Temple
This temple is facing towards west with a three tiered Rajagopuram. The base of the Rajagopuram dates back to the late Pandyas while the upper tiers were built during the first half of 20th century CE. There is a closed mandapam at the front of Rajagopuram. This Mandapam is supported by massive lion pillars. The Sanctum Sanctorum consists of Sanctum, Antrala, Maha Mandapam and Mukha Mandapam.
Nandi, Balipeedam and Dhwaja Sthambam can be found facing the sanctum. There is a pole situated to the south of the Nandi. This Pole is considered as village deity and called as Kambathadi Karuppar. Presiding Deity is called as Vyagrapureeswarar and is facing west. He is housed in the sanctum in the form of Lingam. The Sanctum is built in such a way that the sun rays fall on the Lingam in the evenings.
There are no Dwarapalakas on either side of the sanctum instead there is a Vinayaga idol found opposite to the Linga. There are no koshta idols around the sanctum wall except the Vishnu idol in the koshta behind the sanctum. Chandikeswarar Shrine can be seen in his usual location. The idol of Gnana Dakshinamoorthy can be seen in the cloister in the southern prakaram. This idol is noted for its rare iconographic features.
He is depicted in Ardhanareeswarar form (half male & half female representing Shiva and Parvathy as one). Hence, this Dakshinamoorthy came to be called as Ardhanareeswarar Dakshinamoorthy. He is seated in the utkutikasana posture suitable for concentration. One leg is supported vertically on the pedestal and the other is hung down in this posture. He is four armed.
He holds Japamala & Naga in upper hands and lower right hand shows chin mudra & lower left hand caresses the head Muyalagan. A Vinayaga idol housed a Peeda can be seen on the right side of the Dakshinamoorthy. He is called as Avudai Ganapathy. Mother is called as Brahadambal. She is housed in a separate south facing shrine. Her shrine is situated in Maha Mandapam.
The Maha Mandapam houses the modern bronze Utsava idols used in the temple processions. The old Pancha Loha idols are kept in the Mukha Mandapam. There is an east facing shrine for damaged ancient idol of Goddess Brahadambal, situated near southern entrance. This shrine was built during the reign of Raja Ramachandra Thondaiman.
The temple is built in such a way that shrines are built opposite to each other. For example, Lord Vinayaka shrine is opposite of Shiva shrine and Kalabhairava shrine opposite of Lord Muruga shrine. Mother Mahalakshmi shrine is just opposite of Lord Vishnu. There is shrine for Lord Murugan with his consorts Valli & Devasena in the cloister mandapam. He is facing towards south. Devasena is seen holding lotus in her hand.
There is a shrine for Lord Subramanya in the southern prakaram. It houses a unique sculpture of Subrahmanya in bas relief in the Veerasana pose. He holds a rosary in the upper right hand, a spear (Vel) in the upper left hand, the lower right hand shows the abhaya mudra and the lower left hand rests on the thigh.
The penance spot of Lord Muruga in the temple is in a hexagonal shape in the prakara. Lord Muruga is sitting on a Lotus with one leg folded and the other stretched in penance posture. He does not have his Vel weapon or his peacock with him. Generally, Lord Muruga can be seen either in an ascetic or royal style in temples but this penance style is rare. There is a shrine housing Nine Vinayagas representing Navagrahas in this temple.
There is a shrine for of Sudamani Sadira Vidangar Nayakar along with his consort Pirattiyaar in the temple premises. There are shrines for Theradi Vinayaga, Kasi Viswanathar with his consort Visalakshi, Nalvar, Kala Bhairavar, Suryan, Sapta Matrikas, Saneeswarar, Gajalakshmi and Naga idols in the temple premises. Sthala Vriksham is Vanni tree. It is believed that the tree is around 800 years old.
