Sakshinatheswarar Temple,
Thiruppurambiyam – The Temple
This Temple is facing towards east with five tiered Rajagopuram and has two prakarams. Balipeedam, Nandi and Dhwaja Sthambam can be found immediately after the Rajagopuram. There is a three-tiered Gopuram with a mandapa at the entrance of the inner prakaram. The Sanctum Sanctorum consists of Sanctum, Artha mandapam and Maha Mandapam.
Presiding Deity is called as Sakshinatheswarar / Sakshinathar / Punnaivana Nathar and is facing east. He is housed in the sanctum in the form of Lingam. Lord is a Swayambhu Murthy (self-manifested). It is believed that Lord Suryan (Sun) worships the Linga by directing his rays on the Linga every year for three days on 3rd, 4th and 5th in the Tamil month of Panguni (Mar-Apr).
The Vimana over the sanctum is of Vesara type. Narthana Ganapathy, Dakshinamurthy, Sattanathar, Lingothbhava and Durga are the Koshta idols located around the sanctum walls. Chandikeswarar Shrine can be seen in his usual location. Mother is called as Karumpadu Sollammai / Karumbanna Sollammai / Ishuvaani / Kuraivilla Azhagi / Ekasphavani. She is housed in a separate south facing shrine. Her shrine is situated in the outer prakaram.
Chandikeswari Shrine can be seen near Mother Shrine similar to Chandikeswarar Shrine located near Sanctum. There is an idol of Guhambigai holding Lord Murugan in her hip made of clay (stucco) in a separate mandapam. Only Thaila Kappu will be applied this idol. Women worship her for child boon and safe delivery.
There is a separate shrine for Dakshinamurthy, situated on the southern banks of the Temple tank outside the entrance of Rajagopuram. This Shrine is considered as one of the 24 sacred Dakshinamurthy shrines and is considered to be very auspicious. It is also said that this is the only place in Tamil Nadu where Lord Dakshinamoorthy has a separate shrine. He is also praised as Aram Uraitha Nayanar.
The Shivalingas worshipped by Nalvar (Thirugnana Sambandar, Tirunavukkarasar, Sundarar and Manickavasagar), Agasthya, Pulasthya, Sanaka, Sanandhana, Sanadhana, Sanathkumara and Vishwamitra can be seen in straight line in the first prakaram. There is a unique Vinayagar Idol in the temple premises. It is made of Chippi, Kilinjal and sea foam. Honey Abishekam is performed once in a year on Vinayaga Chathurthi day. All the honey will be absorbed in the idol itself.
There are shrines and idols of Vinayakar, Nataraja, Pralayam Katha Vinayakar, Nalvar, Murugan with his consorts Valli & Devasena, Gajalakshmi, Jaya Durga, Ashtabuja Durga, Sattanathar, Kala Bairavar, Somaskandar, Dhandapani, Mukkan Ganapathy, Lingams, Pradiksha Nathar, Suryan, Chandran and Navagrahas can be seen in the temple premises. Sthala Vrikshams are Punnai and Vanni Trees. Theertham associated with this temple are Brahma Theertham, Saptha Sagara Koobam (well) and Manniyaru River.
