Chenganmaaleeswarar
Temple, Chenganmaal
– The Temple
This Temple is facing towards east with an entrance arch. The entrance arch has stucco images of Lord Shiva & Parvathi in Kailasha flanked by Vinayaga and Murugan. The entrance arch is in the form of a mukha mandapam. Balipeedam, Dhwaja Sthambam and Nandi can be seen immediately after the entrance arch, facing towards the sanctum. The sanctum sanctorum consists of sanctum, ardha mandapam, maha mandapam and mukha mandapam.
Idols of Vinayaga and Murugan can be seen on either side of the entrance of the sanctum. Presiding Deity is called as Chenganmaaleeswarar and is facing east. He is housed in the sanctum in the form of Lingam on a square avudaiyar. The Lingam is said to have been made of Salagrama stone. The Salagrama stone is generally associated with Lord Vishnu. Vinayaga, Dakshinamurthy, Vishnu, Brahma and Durga are the koshta idols located around the sanctum walls.
Chandikeswarar shrine can be seen in his usual location. Mother is called as Periya Nayagi / Brihan Nayagi. She is housed in a separate south facing shrine. Her shrine is situated immediately after the entrance arch. Her shrine consists of sanctum, ardha mandapam and mukha mandapam. Shrines of Selva Vinayagar, Murugan with consorts Valli & Devasena, Gaja Lakshmi, Jyestha Devi, Navagrahas, Bhairavar and Suryan can be seen in the outer prakaram.
There is an Urchava mandapam made of stone pillars adjacent to the Selva Vinayagar shrine. There is temple bell tower situated adjacent to the Suryan shrine. Theertham associated with this temple is Vishnu Theertham. It is a large pond situate to the right side of the temple. Sthala Vriksham is Vilvam Tree. A Peepal tree can be seen in front of the entrance arch. Naga Idols can be seen below this tree.
