Siddhanatheswarar
Temple, Thirunaraiyur – The Temple
This Temple is facing towards west with five tiered Rajagopuram and has two prakarams. Kodimara Vinayagar, Dhwaja Sthambam, Balipeedam and Nandi can be found immediately after the Rajagopuram facing the sanctum. The Sanctum Sanctorum consists of Sanctum, Artha Mandapam and Maha Mandapam. Shrines of Dwara Ganapathy and Bala Shanmugar can be seen on either side at the entrance of Sanctum.
Presiding Deity is called as Siddhanatheswarar / Vedeswarar / Ramanatha Swamy / Nareswarar and is facing west. He is housed in the sanctum in the form of Lingam. Lord is a Swayambhu Murthy (self-manifested). Sun rays fall on Lingam every year on three days in the Tamil months of Masi (Feb-Mar) and Avani (Aug-Sep).
Two Dakshinamoorthy (One is west side & another one in South side), Arthanareeswarar resting his hand in Rishaba, Bikshadana, Lingodbhava, Prasanna Durga, Brahma, Nataraja and Varasiddhi Vinayaga are the Koshta idols located around the sanctum walls. Reliefs of Medhavi Maharishi, Nara Narayana Pakshi worshipping Lord Shiva and Gorakka Siddhar worshipping Lord Shiva can be seen in the sanctum walls.
Prasanna Durga is eight armed holding various weapons. Her right leg is slightly one step ahead to help the devotees. This is a rare posture. This west facing Dakshinamurthy is considered very auspicious and Navagraha Shrine can be seen right in front of this Dakshinamoorthy. Those facing adverse effects of planets pray to Lord Dakshinamurthy and the Navagrahas.
Lord Vishnu and Lord Brahma in worshipping posture can be seen on each side of Lingodbhava. Thus, darshan of Hindu Trinity in single location is possible. Chandikeswarar shrine can be seen in his usual location. It houses three Chandikeswarars in this shrine. The presence of three Chandikeswaras in the prakara is a special feature in the temple.
Mother is called as Azhagammai / Soundarya Nayaki / Parvathavarthini. She is housed in a separate south facing shrine. Her shrine is situated in Maha Mandapam . The Maha Mandapam is built to look like the forehead of a bat (Vovval Nethi Mandapam). She is decorated with sandal paste on the last Friday of Thai month-January-February.
There is a shrine for Mother Mahalakshmi near to Navagrahas Shrine. She is depicted as an infant in this temple. Hence, she is called as Mazhalai Maha Lakshmi. She is dressed in skirts and gowns as a child. Gomatha (cow) puja and yajna are performed in this shrine on Fridays and on full moon days with 108 lotus flowers. There is a separate shrine for Lord Muruga nearby. He is shown in a seated posture.
There are shrines and idols of Ananda Vinayakar, Murugan, Kubera, Sapthamathas, Balasubramanya, Siddha Lingam, Rina Lingam, Vayu Lingam, Thejas Lingam, Jyothi Lingam, Valampuri Vinayakar, Kasi Viswanathar with his consort Visalakshi, Nagammal, Suryan, Kala Bairavar, Veera Bairavar, Nalvar with Karaikal Ammaiyar and Saneeswarar in the temple premises.
Theertham associated with this temple are Soola Theertham, Brahma Theertham, Jada Theertham, Sidhamirtha Theertham and Kadika Theertham. Brahma Theertham is situated on the northern side of the temple. Sthala Vriksham is Pavazha Malligai (a jasmine variety).
