Nangavaram Sundareshwarar Temple

Nangavaram, a village situated approximately 30 kilometers away from the city of Trichy in the Tamil Nadu state of India, boasts an ancient temple from the Chola period dedicated to Lord Shiva, known as the Sundareshwarar temple. This article delves into the intricacies of this revered temple.

Highlights:

• God - Sundareshwarar
• Goddess - Komalavalli
• The Samadhi of Akhandeswara.

Legend:

According to legend, a Chola King brought a Shiva Linga from Kasi (Varanasi) and enshrined it in this village, giving rise to the creation of this temple. Akhandeswara, a sage from Kasi, concluded his penance but lost access to the Shiva Linga he had been devotedly worshiping. Through his spiritual insight, the sage discovered the location of his revered deity and embarked on a journey southward. Arriving at the village, he encountered closed temple doors. He leapt over the temple walls, landing in an area filled with mud. Unfortunately, his feet became ensnared in quicksand. In this moment, Lord Shiva conveyed his desire to remain in the village and instructed the sage to do the same. As a result, the sage attained samadhi (spiritual absorption) at this very site. Presently, a shrine dedicated to Akhandeswara stands within the temple premises.

Additionally, there's a fascinating tale about a princess whose countenance transformed into that of a jackal's. With the divine intervention of Lord Shiva in this temple, she regained her human visage. Consequently, the village came to be known as Nangai Varam, eventually evolving into Nangavaram, with "Nangai" meaning woman and "varam" translating to boon.

History:

Originally named Arinjikai Chatur Vedi Mangalam, the village is believed to have been blessed with the construction of the temple during the reign of Parantaka Chola I in the 10th century CE.

Temple Layout:

Entrance:

Facing southward, the temple lacks a towering entrance. Outside the temple complex, Nandi and bali peetha (sacrificial altar) are positioned, oriented towards the temple's direction.

Sundareshwar:

The sanctum, facing eastward, houses a substantial Shiva Linga known as Sundareshwarar. The Vimana (tower) adorning the sanctum is remarkably appealing. The sanctum, Vimana, and various other sub-shrines in similar Vimana style are attributed to the period of Parantaka Chola. Within the Maha Mandapa, a shrine for Nandi faces the primary deity.

Dwarapalas:

The entrance to the sanctum features captivating sculptures of Dwarapalas (doorkeepers). The Dwarapala on the true right side of the entrance raises the index finger of his right arm toward his forehead, resembling a salute. On the left side, the Dwarapala extends his left arm upward with fingers spread wide. These large-sized Dwarapalas exhibit intriguing and slightly unique features, albeit photography is not permitted.

Komalavalli:

While "Komalavalli" is a name associated with Lakshmi in certain Vishnu temples, in this temple, it refers to the consort of Shiva. Komalavalli's icon, somewhat larger in size, portrays her standing with four arms. Positioned in the prakara and facing north, her shrine adds to the temple's charm.

Other Shrines:

Prominent structures include sub-shrines dedicated to Kanni Moola Ganapati, Shanmukha-Valli-Devasena, and Dandayudhapani. These sub-shrines boast Vimanas attributed to the Parantaka Chola period. Shanmukha is represented with six heads, twelve arms, and a peacock as his vehicle.

Notably, Gaja Lakshmi is absent from this temple's shrines. In her place, a sub-shrine dedicated to Jyeshtha Devi is found, accompanied by two attendants.

The prakara also houses Sapta Matas, Chandikeshwara, and Navagraha shrines. At the entrance of the Maha Mandapa, images of Ganesha and Dandayudhapani greet visitors.

Inside the Maha Mandapa, a sub-shrine showcases bronze icons of the temple, including the significant ones like Nataraja, Sivakami, Uma-Chandrashekhar, Ganesh, Subramanya-Valli-Devasena, and Somaskanda.

A sculpture of Navakanda enriches the temple's compound.

Koshta Deities:

The Koshta deities presently in place are not original to the temple's period. Niche images of Dakshinamurti, Vishnu, and Brahma replace the original ones. Notably, Ganesha and Durga are not present in these niches.

Akhandeswara:

A distinguishing aspect of the temple is the shrine dedicated to Akhandeswara. The sage is depicted in a seated posture, with his right arm holding Kamadulu and his left arm resting on his lap. Adjacent to this shrine, an image of Bhairava can be found.

Happy travelling.