Tripuranteeswarar Temple - The Pride of Palayankottai
While Tirunelveli takes pride in the colossal twin temple of Kantimati and Nellaiyappar, its twin town, Palayankottai, also has a significant source of pride—the Gomati Sameta Tirupuranteeswarar temple. This temple, worthy of boasting, can technically be considered as three temples. Gomati and Tirupuranteeswara each have their dedicated shrines in two temples, while their child Skanda is housed in the central temple, creating an architecturally intriguing Somaskanda form. Let's explore the intricate details of this immensely beautiful and expansive temple.
Tripuranteeswarar
The east-facing simple Raja gopuram entrance leads us to the temple of Tripuranteeswarar. In the sanctum facing east, Tripuranteeswarar manifests as a large Shiva Linga. An intriguing legend surrounds this Linga—it is believed to have been transported from Varanasi by the mighty Hanuman. According to the tale, a Pandya King, cursed by a sage, sought solace under the guidance of Rishi Gautama. At the sage's request, Hanuman journeyed to Varanasi, brought the sacred Shiva Linga, and Gautama installed it in the Shenpaka Vanam. The King, faithfully performing regular pooja as advised, eventually liberated himself from the curse.
Continuing our exploration of the Gomati Sameta Tirupuranteeswarar temple, the architectural marvel unfolds into various segments. The temple structure comprises the moolasthana, ardha mandapa, maha mandapa, mani mandapa, inner prakara, outer prakara, and mukha mandapa. In the moolasthana, Tripuranteeswarar is revered, guarded by two Dwarapalas in the ardha mandapa. The Dwarapala on the right side of Shiva displays a threatening gesture (Taranjai mudra), while the other expresses surprise or wonder (vismaya mudra), a distinctive style observed in many Shiva temples in the Tirunelveli region.
Within the Maha mandapa, a shrine dedicated to Nataraja and Sivakami is present. Additionally, metal icons of the Nalvar, the four poet saints, grace this mandapa. The elegant Mani mandapa, supported by four pillars, features small images of Bala Vinayaka and Bala Subramanya.
Moving to the forefront of the Mani mandapa, the presence of the dhwajastambha, bali peetha, and Nandi creates a sacred ambiance that extends into the inner prakara around the main shrine. Adjacent to Nandi, the Navagrahas find their revered abode.
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The temple complex further encompasses an outer prakara and a Mukha mandapa. In the Mukha mandapa, separate shrines enshrine Dwara Ganapati, Subramanya, and Iyappa (metal image). Somavara mandapa is present on the northern side. Notably, on the opposite side of the road, a mandapa adorned with fascinating stucco images at the entrance beckons the curious visitor.
The inner prakara features an elevated platform, referred to as "Thinnai" in Tamil. This platform, along with the space below it within the next half of the prakara, is adorned with numerous pillars. Among these pillars, some showcase intriguing carvings that capture the attention of visitors.The upper walls of the prakara are adorned with a series of large paintings that vividly depict the tales of Nayanmars and Togai Adiyars.
Within the inner prakara, Surya and Chandra stand facing the main shrine, emanating a celestial aura. An Adhikara Nandi, facing the north side, commands reverence with its imposing presence. The southern prakara boasts the striking presence of Jwaradeva, a three-legged, three-armed, and three-headed deity, along with the distinguished Tirunelveli-Nayakkar style Veerabhadra adorned with a beard. The Sapta Matas, Ganesha, and small stone images of the revered 63 Nayanmars add to the spiritual ambiance.
Moving to the western prakara, the sanctuaries of Kanni Moola Ganapati, Subramanya-Valli-Devasena, and the metal images of Somaskanda grace the space. The stone sculpture of Kartikeya, radiating timeless beauty, captivates visitors with its artistic allure. In the northern prakara, a diminutive sub-shrine of Chandikeswara, metal icons depicting the revered 63 Nayanmars, Bhairava, Gaja Lakshmi, Saraswati, Shaneeswara, and another shrine housing the metal images of Nataraja and Sivakami contribute to the sanctity of the temple complex.
It's noteworthy that Pandya temples traditionally lack Koshta images, yet a recent endeavor has introduced Koshta murtis. Dakshinamurti, Lingodbhava, and Durga now grace these alcoves, with Durga being the latest addition, while the other two Koshta murtis are comparatively older.
Within the expansive outer prakara, beneath the vast open sky, a dedicated shrine is erected for Shata, accompanied by Poorna and Pushkala. Along the pathway leading to this prakara, a north-facing shrine for Ayiraththamman stands. This eight-armed Goddess was originally crafted for installation in the newly constructed Ayiraththamman temple during the 19th century. Interestingly, the divine intervention occurred when Amman appeared in the dreams of the locals, directing them to reinstate the original icon in the new temple. Consequently, the newly crafted icon found its rightful place within this sacred space.
Gomati
On the southern flank of the Tirupuranteeswarar temple, the Gomati temple gracefully unfolds. Gomati, a divine presence, stands tall with two arms.
Within the ardha mandapa, two Dwarapalikas stand sentinel to the goddess. The Dwarapalika on the right adopts a threatening gesture (Taranjai mudra), while her counterpart expresses astonishment or wonder (vismaya mudra). This unique style is a characteristic feature observed in numerous Shiva temples throughout the Tirunelveli region.
Encircling the shrine is a sole prakara, housing sub-shrines dedicated to Ganesha and Subramanya-Valli-Devasena. In a diminutive south-facing shrine, Chandikeshwari, the feminine embodiment of Chandikeshwara, graces the devotees.
Nandi, bali peetha, and Dhwajastambha face the main shrine in reverent alignment.
This segment also features a petite east-facing gopuram. The Mukha mandapa exhibits better architectural splendor as its counterpart in the Tirupuranteeswara temple. The sturdy pillars are adorned with sculpted lions atop, and a plethora of captivating sculptures embellishes many of these pillars.
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Murugan
Nestled between Gomati and Tirupuranteeswara is the Murugan temple. Here, Murugan is elegantly seated on a peacock within the main shrine.
Veera Bhahu and Veera Mahendra play the role of Dwarapalas.
In the surrounding prakara, two sub-shrines are dedicated to Valli and Devasena.
The east-facing shrine in the Maha mandapa houses the metal icon of Murugan accompanied by his consorts. Additionally, a south-facing shrine boasts a remarkably beautiful metal icon of Shanmukha, along with his two consorts. Originally crafted for the Tiruchendur temple, it found its permanent abode here, lending the locality its name, Murugankurichi.
Avvaiyar is also present in the Maha mandapa, facing the primary shrine of Murugan.
The prakara further hosts a shrine for Mahadeva Linga, accompanied by an icon of Ganesha.
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