Kalyana Sundareswarar Temple, Tiruvelvikudi – The Temple

Kalyana Sundareswarar Temple, Tiruvelvikudi – The Temple

This temple is facing towards east with three tiered rajagopuram and has two prakarams. There is an entrance arch in front of the rajagopuram. There is a long corridor between the entrance arch and the rajagopuram. Balipeedam and Nandi can be found immediately after the rajagopuram. The temple consists of sanctum, ardha mandapam and maha mandapam. Four armed dvarapalas can be seen guarding the entrance of the ardha mandapam.

Presiding deity is called as Kalyana Sundareswarar / Manavaleswarar / Gowthageswarar and is facing east. He is housed in the sanctum in the form of Lingam. Lord is a Swayambhu Moorthy (self-manifested). Vinayaga, Agastya, Nataraja, Dakshinamurthy, Lingothbhava, Chandrasekara, Ardhanareeswarar, Brahma, and Vishnu Durga are the koshta idols located around the sanctum walls. Chandikeswarar shrine can be seen in his usual location.

The relief of the divine marriage of Lord Shiva with goddess Parvati can be seen in the makara torana above the Nataraja and a king worshipping Shiva Lingam can be seen next to the Agastya. Parvati is depicted on the right half of Ardhanareeswarar in this sculpture against the usual left half. The utsava idol is Kalyana Sundareswarar with goddess Parvati in their wedding posture. Lord Shiva is shown holding the right hand of the goddess Parvati. She stands next to Lord Shiva on his right side.

Nataraja Sabha can be seen in the maha mandapam. The Nataraja Sabha is facing towards south and enshrines the images of Nataraja and Shivagami. There is a separate shrine for Agastya in the ardha mandapam. Mother is called as Parimala Sugantha Nayaki / Gowthakesi / Narunchanthu Nayagi. She is housed in a separate south facing shrine in the prakaram. There are two Bhairavas facing towards the sanctum. There is no shrine for Navagrahas in this temple.

Shrines & Idols of Varasiddhi Vinayagar, Valanchuzhi Vinayagar, Subramanya with his consorts Valli & Devasena, Kothandarama with Sita, Lakshmana & Anjaneya, Nalvar, Gajalakshmi, Suryan and Esana Murthy can be seen in the temple premises. Theerthams associated with this temple are Padma Theertham, Sundara Theertham, Mangala Theertham and Gouthuga Bandhana Theertham. Gouthuga Bandhana Theertham is situated opposite to the entrance arch of the temple. Sthala Vriksham is Vilva tree.