Sathyapureeswarar
Temple, Ponmar – The Temple
This temple is facing towards east. The temple consists of sanctum, ardha mandapam and maha mandapam. The maha mandapam can be accessed from the southern side. Nandi can be found in the maha mandapam facing towards the sanctum. Presiding deity is called as Sathyapureeswarar / Sakthipureeswarar and is facing east. He is housed in the sanctum in the form of Lingam.
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There are no images on the niches around the sanctum walls, but idols of later period are kept under the niches. The vimana over the sanctum is of vesara type. Utsava idols and Nataraja are kept in the ardha mandapam. Mother is called as Sathyapureeswari / Sakthipureeswari. She is housed in a separate south facing shrine. Her shrine is situated in maha mandapam to the left side of the sanctum.
She is four armed. Her upper hands hold angusa & pasa and lower hands shows varada & abhaya hastha. The head of the goddess is tilted little towards the left as if she is willing to listen to your prayers. There is a shrine for Kasi Viswanathar at the back side of the Sakthipureeswari shrine. Idols of Valampuri Vinayaga, Subramanya with his consorts Valli & Devasena and Kala Bhairava can be seen in the maha mandapam.
The maha mandapam is supported by four pillars. These pillars are intricately carved with sculptures of Nardana Ganapathy, Bikshadana, Mahishasura Mardhini, Ashta Bhuja Durga, Simha Vahini, Agastya, Bhima, Kamadenu performing milk abhisheka to Lingam, Rama, Hanuman, Narasimha, Krishna with Gopis, Nandi, Swan, Ganda Berunda (Emblem of Vijayanagara Kingdom), lotus etc.
The ceiling of the mandapa has a sculpture of fish. There is also another sculpture in the ceiling depicting a snake engulfing the moon in three progressive steps representing the lunar eclipse. Theerthams associated with this temple are Kubera Theertham and Chandra Theertham. These temple tanks are situated in the front and the back of the temple. Sthala Vriksham is Vilva Tree and Vellerukku (Sodom Apple).
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