Pettavaithalai Madhyarjuneshwar Temple
Pettavaithalai, a quaint town nestled approximately 33 kilometers away from Trichy city in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, presents itself as a hidden gem. Positioned between Trichy and Karur, it's easily accessible from both cities. This town holds within it an age-old temple devoted to Lord Shiva, known as Madhyarjuneshwar. This temple, originating from the Chola era, boasts captivating architecture adorned with intricate sculptures. Regrettably, it remains relatively obscure, an aspect we'll delve into within this discourse.
Highlights:
- God - Madhyarjuneshwar
- Goddess - Balambika
- The sculpture of Brahma hatya.
- The Jeeva Samadhi of a Siddha.
- Dakshinamurti in Abhaya Mudra.
Legend:
Legend has it that Pottralam Poovai Siddhar attained Jeeva Samadhi within the temple precincts. This Siddha specialized in crafting herbs and remedies for women-centric ailments.
Historically, the temple was built by Kulotunga Chola III. As per the legend, he got Brahma hatya dosha. (Brahma hatya dosha is the sin caused due to killing Brahmins). To get absolved from the sin, he built many temples for Lord Shiva. This is one among those temples.
History:
Historically attributed to Kulotunga Chola III, the temple's construction finds its roots in the early 13th century CE. The temple bears an inscription dating back to 1205-1206 CE, hailing from this ruler's era. Moreover, a separate inscription from Rani Mangammal of the Nayaka dynasty, dated 1685 CE, is also an integral part of the temple complex.
The temple, facing east, is crowned by a five-tiered tower.
At the temple's threshold, ancient stone images of of Ganesha and Vishnu along with his consorts, Sri Devi and Bhoo Devi, accompanied by Garuda, are situated. These icons, although discovered within the town, don't originally belong to the temple. Additionally, an image of a Jain deity, likely Adinath, was also unearthed but is no longer present here. Reportedly, it was relocated to another temple or museum.
Situated in the east-facing sanctum, a splendid Vimana houses a substantial Shiva Linga known as Madhyarjuneshwar.
Within the sanctum's entrance, one encounters two beautifully carved medium-sized sculptures of Dwarapalas.
In the Maha Mandapa, Nandi, facing Shiva, is prominently positioned.
The temple's Goddess, Balambika, occupies a distinct south-facing shrine.
The outer walls of the sanctum host Koshta Murtis including Nardana Ganapati, Dakshinamurti, Lingodbhava, Brahma, and Durga.
Notably, Nardana Ganapati's head is turned towards his right, an atypical pose.
Dakshinamurti's right arm holds the Abhaya mudra, an exclusive feature.
The sculptures of Lingodbhava and Brahma, likely modern creations, deviate from the original style. Brahma is depicted in a seated posture, a rarity for a Koshta Brahma.
Within the prakara, sub-shrines dedicated to Ganesha, Subramanya-Valli-Devasena, Gaja Lakshmi, Chandikeshwara, and Navagraha grace the premises.
An ancient Bhikshatana image, possibly from the Chola period, coexists with Linga and Saraswati.
Adjacent to the entrance of the Gaja Lakshmi shrine, a six-feet tall ancient Vishnu image, unearthed within the town, stands prominently.
The courtyard boasts a towering wooden flagstaff, bali peetha, and Nandi. Flanking Nandi are Surya and Chandra, facing the sanctum.
In an Ardha mandapa sub-shrine, bronze images of deities such as Ganesha, Subramanya, Uma and Chandrashekhar, and more, find their abode.
Within the Maha Mandapa, a sub-shrine enshrines miniature bronze images of Nataraja and Sivakami.
In the front-side mandapa, numerous pillar sculptures catch the eye, two of which stand out: the Brahma hatya dosha and Pottralam Poovai Siddhar sculptures. Devotees believe worshiping the latter Siddhar can alleviate women-specific issues.
En route to this temple from the highway, a local shrine featuring a lofty stucco Hanuman icon awaits, inviting travelers to embark on a fulfilling journey of exploration.
Happy travelling.
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