Trichy Nandrudaiyan Temple - Lord Ganesha with the Human Face

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Site Name: Nandrudaiyan Temple
Site Type: Hindu temple
Location:  Trichy city, Tamil Nadu state, India
Highlights: A unique temple where Lord Ganesha is found with the human face; Nandi facing Lord Ganesha
Nearest Railway Station: Trichy
Nearest Airport: Trichy
How to reach: Well connected by road, rail and air
Hotel: A lot of options across the city; this is one of the important cities in South India 
Restaurants: All varieties of restaurants across the city

Trichy is one of the most important cities of Tamil Nadu state in South India. When it comes to Trichy, everyone would think or talk mainly about the Rock Fort. Although the Nandrudaiyan temple dedicated to Lord Ganesha is not popular as the other Ganesha temple (Uchchi Pillaiyar) in Rock Fort, it is a unique temple which should not be missed out.

Nandrudaiyan Vinayaka temple is located in East Boulevard Road in Devadhanam area of Trichy city. It is said that even Sambandhar of 7th century CE has referred this temple in his verses. However, the current structure of the temple cannot be claimed to be more than 30-40 years old. 

The temple does not have sculptural beauty or architectural wonder. However, there are two features in this shrine which cannot be found anywhere else. Nandi idol, which is generally associated with Lord Shiva (or Shakti in few temples), is found facing Lord Ganesha. There is a sub-shrine in the temple where Ganesha is found with the human face. These two features make this temple unique and attractive.

The sanctum santorum has Lord Ganesha as found in his typical form. There is a sub-shrine dedicated to Aadi Vinayaka where Lord Ganesha is found with the human face instead of having elephant head and trunk. It is said that Lord Ganesha was in this form and his head was chopped off and replaced with that of an elephant later. This is perhaps the only temple where Lord Ganesha is found in his original form. He is holding an axe and modaka in his two arms.

The Aadi Vinayaka sub-shrine also has the idols of Aadi Shankara, Vyasa, Gayatri, Brahmananda and Pattinathar. 

There are sub-shrines of Ayyappa, Subramanya-Valli-Devasena, Dakshinamurti and Navagraha in this temple. All the eight planets face towards Surya who is in the middle. This kind of depiction of Navagraha (nine planets) is commonly found only in and around Trichy area.

When you go to Trichy, don't just visit Rock Fort; also go to this unique temple.

Happy travelling.



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Location: Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu, India

Comments

  1. VijayMonday, July 22, 2013

    Very useful post indeed, KK. Never knew there was a temple for Ganesha in his original form. And never really paid attention to the peculiar navagraha formation (facing the sun) in Trichi temples. I've always been told that they do not see/face each other - more because it is to depict that they are never in the path of collision with each other as celestial bodies. This is certainly a very interesting observation. Thank you for the crisp narrative.

    ReplyDelete
  2. VijayMonday, July 22, 2013

    Very useful post indeed, KK. Never knew there was a temple for Ganesha in his original form. And never really paid attention to the peculiar navagraha formation (facing the sun) in Trichi temples. I've always been told that they do not see/face each other - more because it is to depict that they are never in the path of collision with each other as celestial bodies. This is certainly a very interesting observation. Thank you for the crisp narrative.

    ReplyDelete

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