Soleeswarar Temple,
Pillaiyarpalayam – The Temple
This Temple is facing towards east with an entrance arch. The entrance arch has stucco images of Lord Shiva and Parvathy with their respective mounts at their feet, flanked by Nandis. Nandi and Balipeedam can be found immediately after the entrance arch facing the sanctum through window. The Sanctum Sanctorum consists of Sanctum, Ardha Mandapam and Maha Mandapam. The entrance to the sanctum is from southern side.
Presiding Deity is called as Soleeswarar / Samhara Bhairaveswarar and is facing east. He is housed in the sanctum in the form of Lingam. Lingam is having 32 stripes in its surface. Sculpture of Ashta Bhairavas doing Pooja to Lord Shiva can be seen in the wall behind the Lingam. There is support structure for northern wall of the sanctum to prevent it from collapsing.
Vinayaga, Dakshinamurthy, Vishnu, Brahma and Durga are the Koshta idols located around the sanctum walls. Chandikeswarar Shrine can be seen in his usual location. Kamakshi Amman of Kanchi Kamakshi temple is considered as the consort of Lord Shiva. There are two Naga Idols have Nardana Krishna and Lord Shiva in the Idols can be seen in the prakaram.
There are shrines for Asitanga Bhairava (with a Swan mount), Ruru Bhairava (with Ox mount), Chanda Bhairava (with Peacock mount), Krodha Bhairava (with Eagle mount), Unmatha Bhairava (with Horse mount), Kapala Bhairava (with Elephant mount), Bhishma Bhairava (with Lion mount) and Samhara Bhairava (with Dog mount) in the temple premises.
All these eight Bhairavas are in the form of Shiva Lingams. These 8 Bhairavas are collectively called as Ashta Bhairavas. There are shrines for Vinayaga, Subramanya with his consorts Valli & Devasena, Surya, Navagrahas, Saptha Kannigais panel and Jyestha Devi with Manthan & Manthi in the temple premises.
