Sri Markapureeswarar Temple, Visalur, Pudukkottai District, Tamil Nadu.

29^th September 2018.

This visit to this temple is a part of the Pudukkottai Heritage  Visit, arranged by Mr Trichy Parthy. The temple is under the control of the Archaeological  Survey of India.  The Kumbhabhishekam was performed a few days before. (This post was updated with architecture, history, and inscriptions. For more details please click this link)

Moolavar    : Sri Markapureeswarar /Sri Markabandeeswarar

                   Sri Vakiswaramudaya mahadevar

Some of the important features are...

The temple faces east with Shiva & Parvathi stucco image In the entrance arch. A Nayak statue and a mandapam are immediately after the entrance arch. Balipeedam, Dwajasthambam, and Rishabam are in front of the 2 tier Rajagopuram.

In the niche / Deva koshtam Dakshinamurthy, installed at a latter state.  In the outer prakaram sannadhi for Vishnu, Durgai, Lingas, Jyeshta Devi / Thavvai, Ambal sannadhi, Chandikeswarar. Navagrahas are in the Mukha mandapam.

ARCHITECTURE

The temple consists of sanctum Sanctorum, antarala, artha mandapam and mukha mandapam.  A single tier Nagara style stone vimana including kalasam on the square sanctum. In the Vimana koshtam, Dakshinamurthy, Vishnu & Brahma and 4 Nandhis on 4 corners. 

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

This is the 9^th Century temple that was constructed by Vijayalaya Chozha ( Tamil Virtual Academy claims that it was Parantaka Chozha-I ). Inscriptions of Rajaraja-I and Kulothunga Chozha-I are found on the adhistanam. One of the Kulothunga Chozha’s inscriptions mentions his real name as Rajendra. The moolavar’s name is mentioned as Vasukiswaramudaya Mahadevar and Varathukasuramudaya Nayanar. The inscription stones which are not used during renovation are kept on the north side of praharam.

A Vijayanagara period Donor

TEMPLE TIMINGS:

The temple will be kept open between 08.00 Hrs to 17.00 hrs since the temple was maintained by ASI.

HOW TO REACH:

The temple Can be reached through Pudukkottai- Keeranur-Kunnandar Kovil – Visalur.

140 KM from Madurai and 17 KM from Pudukkottai.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---