Saturday, October 30, 2021

Thiruperumanandar Temple, Madathukoil, Pudukottai

Thiruperumanandar Temple, Madathukoil, Pudukottai

Thiruperumanandar Temple is a Hindu Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva, located in Madathukoil Village in Illuppur Taluk in Pudukottai District of Tamil Nadu, India. The Temple is one of the protected monuments in Tamil Nadu declared by Archaeological Survey of India.


The Temple

This temple is facing towards west and is in ruins. Nandi and Balipeedam can be found facing towards the sanctum. The temple appears like a Vijayanagara era temple but actually built over a Chola era temple. The temple contains remnants of an older Chola era outer prakaram in dark granite enclosing a younger Vijayanagara era structure in pink granite. The Vijayanagara era structure is probably built over an earlier structure. The Vijayanagara structure consists of sanctum, antrala and ardha mandapam. This structure is unfinished.


The ardha mandapam is rectangular in plan. The lintel of the ardha mandapam has carvings of Ganesha, Lakshmi and another goddess in a row. The sanctum enshrines a Shiva Linga. The niches on the three sides of the sanctum are provided with porch. The porches are supported by two pillars and two pilasters. There is no image in the northern and western niches, but the southern niche enshrines an image of Dakshinamoorthy. A covered cloister ran around the main shrine but currently surviving in parts only.


Reliefs of Pulasthya, Vishvamitra, Bharadhwaja, Jamadagni & Agasthya, goddess Parvathy worshipping a Lingam, bhutagana playing musical instruments & dancing, Subrahmanya on his peacock, Krishna dancing on the serpent Kaliya, geometrical, floral and animal motifs can be seen on the walls of the sanctum. There is a shrine for goddess Parvathy located to the north west of the sanctum. Her shrine is facing towards south. Her shrine consists of sanctum and ardha mandapam. The goddess idol is missing.


Connectivity

The temple is located at about 13 Kms from Illupur, 14 Kms from Kulathur, 16 Kms from Keeranur, 16 Kms from Keeranur Railway Station, 16 Kms from Kulathur Railway Station, 19 Kms from Narthamalai, 23 Kms from Viralimalai, 25 Kms from Trichy Airport, 34 Kms from Pudukkottai and 37 Kms from Trichy. The temple is situated on Illuppur to Trichy route.

Location