Temple info -3105. Sundareswarar Temple, Thirukattalai,Pudukottai. சுந்தரேஸ்வர ர் கோயில், திருக்கட்டளை,புதுக்கோட்டை
Temple info -3105
கோயில் தகவல் -3105
Sundareswarar Temple, Thirukattalai, Pudukottai
Sundareswarar Temple is a Hindu Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva, located in Thiruvengaivasal Village near Pudukottai Town in Alangudi Taluk in Pudukottai District of Tamil Nadu, India. Presiding Deity is called as Sundareswarar and Mother is called as Mangala Nayagi. The temple is constructed in Ashta Parivara style where eight subsidiary shrines are placed around the sanctum.
History
The temple was believed to be built by Aditya Chola in 9th century CE. This place seems to have been an important pre historic centre as traces of pre historic burials and stone circles can be found around this village. The village was referred as Karkurichi and Lord Shiva of this temple was referred as Katrali Perumanadigal / Thirukatrali Azhwar / Mahadevar / Vignesvaradeva in the inscriptions.
Lord of this temple was called as Thirukattalai Eswaram Udaiya Nayanar as per the inscription from Vijayanagara period. The present name of the village Thirukattalai might have been derived from Thirukatrali. It is said that the architectural style of this temple served as a model for Thanjavur Brihadeeswarar temple built by Chola Emperor Rajaraja Chola.
The Temple
This temple is facing towards east. The temple is constructed in Ashta Parivara style where eight subsidiary shrines are placed around the sanctum. Nandi and Balipeedam can be found facing the sanctum. Provision for Dhwaja Sthambam can be seen in between Nandi and Balipeedam. The Sanctum Sanctorum consists of Sanctum, Antrala and Mukha Mandapam. Dwarapalakas can be seen guarding the sanctum. Presiding Deity is called as Sundareswarar and is facing towards east. He is housed in the sanctum in the form of Lingam.
The sanctum is square on plan. The Vimana over the sanctum is of two tiers and square in shape. Tripurantaka, Vishnu and Brahma are the niche idols in the deva koshta around the sanctum. Bikshadana, Vishnu and Brahma are Koshta idols located around the Shala of the vimana. Uma Mahesvara, Veenadhara Dakshinamoorthy, Lakshmi Varaha and Brahma are the koshta idols located around the griva of the vimana.
Mother is called as Mangala Nayagi. She is housed in a separate south facing shrine. There is a shrine for Surya in the south east corner of the temple. It houses an idol of Surya inside the shrine. He is depicted holding two lotuses in his two hands and riding his chariot drawn by seven horses. Shrine for Sapta Matrikas can be found next to the Surya Shrine on the southern side. This shrine is oblong in shape.
There is a shrine for Vinayaga in the south west corner of the temple. Subramanya shrine can be seen next to the Vinayaga shrine on the western side. There is a shrine for Jyestha in the north west corner of the temple. She is shown accompanied with Gomukha and a lady attendant. Her mount, crow can be seen on her right side. Shrine for Chandra can be seen next to the Jyestha shrine on northern side. Usually, Chandikeswarar shrine is situated in this location.
Chandikeswarar Shrine can be seen next to the Chandran shrine little towards north eastern side. There is a shrine for Bhairava in the north eastern corner of the temple. He is shown with four hands holding trisula and snake. His mount, dog, can be seen behind him. All these subsidiary shrines are attached to the outer wall of the temple. These arrangements are quite unusual in the architectural styles prescribed in the Shilpa Sastra.
Inscriptions
There are few inscriptions found in this temple. This place is referred as Thirukatrali and Karkurichi in inscriptions. The earliest inscription is dated to the third regnal year of Aditya Chola I (871-907 CE). This inscription is found in the north wall of the sanctum. It is damaged and incomplete. It records gift of land made to this temple. There is an inscription dated to the second regnal year of Parantaka Chola I in the south wall of the sanctum. It records gift of land made to this temple. Lord Shiva of this temple was mentioned as Thirukatrali Azhwar of Karkurichi in this inscription.
Another inscription dated to the ninth regnal year of Parantaka Chola I on the south wall of the sanctum records a gift of gold coins and a lamp for maintaining perpetual lamp in this temple. Another inscription dated to the 35th regnal year of Parantaka Chola I on the south wall of the sanctum records a gift of land in Terrallur by the Ur of Karkurichi as Taruvilappuram to the temple of Perumanadigal in the same village.
There is an inscription dated to the ninth regnal year of Kulothunga Chola I in the south wall of the sanctum. It records the death of Bogendra Singa Peraraiyan of Karkurichi in the fight at Milattur. Palamandala Peraiyan of Milattur and his brother Anukkan made a gift of 25 sheep for the supply of ghee to light lamps in the temple with the wish that the feuds might stop. Another inscription dated to the tenth regnal year of Kulothunga Chola I on the south wall of the sanctum records the meikeerthi and registers a gift of land to the temple by Rajendra Chola Mangala Nadalvan of Karkurichi.
Another inscription dated to the 48th regnal year of Kulothunga Chola I on the north wall of the sanctum records a gift of land for maintaining one half of a perpetual lamp in the Mahadevar temple at Karkurichi, by a Kallan of the village, Pappan Chendan (Kulottunga Chola Mangala Nadalvan), in memory of another Kallan Amarpeti Kuppai. Another inscription dated to the second regnal year of Kulothunga Chola I on the east wall of the sanctum records that the members of Karkurichi made a gift of the padikaval rights of Kalayamangalam to the god of the local temple.
Festivals
Surya Pooja during Panguni Month, Arudhra Darshan, Maha Shivaratri, Karthigai Mondays, Pradoshams and Theipirai Ashtami days are celebrated here.
Prayers
People pray to Lord Shiva for relief from diseases. Women pray to Mangala Nayagi for longevity of their husbands life.
Connectivity
The Temple is located at about 4 Kms from Pudukottai Old Bus Stand, 5 Kms from Pudukottai Bus Stand, 7 Kms from Pudukottai Railway Station, 17 Kms from Alangudi and 52 Kms from Trichy Airport. Thirukattalai is situated on the outskirts of Pudukottai town on Pudukkottai – Alangudi road.
Thanks Ilamurugan’s blog
திருக்கட்டளையில் சுந்தரேஸ்வரர் ஆலயம் என்றறியப்படும் இக்கோயிலின் பழமையான கல்வெட்டு, இக்கோயிலை "கற்குறிச்சி திருக்கற்றளி" எனவும், இறைவனை "கற்குறிச்சி கற்றளி பெருமானடிகள்" எனவும் குறிப்பிடுகிறது.
கோயிலின் கட்டமைப்பு :
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வீணாதார தக்ஷிணாமூர்த்தி |
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லக்ஷ்மி வராஹர் |
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அமர்ந்த நிலை பிரம்மா |
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ஜ்யேஷ்டா தேவி |
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