Tuesday 4 June 2019

Sri Manikandeswarar Temple, Idaikattur Sivaganga District, Tamil Nadu.

10th May 2109.
I was invited to attend a marriage on 10th May 2019,  at Idaikattur near Manamadurai near Madurai.  The  fb  friends posts with  the temple’s  inscriptions created interest further. The Village Idaikattur, has a Perumal Temple, Ayyanar Temple, Idaikadar Siddhar Temple and a 19th Century Church too. The Marriage was  happened at this Shiva Temple.


Moolavar   : Sri Aazhi Manikandeswarar 
                 (This Aazhi was added in the recent years only )
Consort     : Sri Soundrambal.

Some of the Salient features of this temple are….
At the entrance of the temple Gate on the left is a Vinayagar sannadhi and on the right is the Idumban sannadhi. The temple is facing east with a balipeedam and a Rishabam / Idabam. There is no dwajasthambam for Shiva Temple. Sannadhi for Vinayagar, Nataraja ( stone ), Kalabhairava, Chandran and Suriyan.  In koshtam Dakshinamurthy and Durgai.

In the outer prakaram sannadhi for Kannimoola Ganapathy, Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniar  ( The sannadhi is like a Temple with Dwajasthambam, balipeedam and Peacock vahana – The local people refers this Shiva Temple as Subramaniar Temple, Chandikeswarar and Ambal Soundarambal Temple. The Ambal is facing east in a Temple like Sannadhi with sanctum, antarala  and a Artha mandapam. 

ARCHITECTURE
The Temple consists of sanctum sanctorum, antarala, artha mandapam and a Mukha mandapam.  A 2 tier Vimanam is on the sanctum.
 

HISTORY & INSCRIPTIONS:
The temple existed before 13th century CE. The latter period 13th Century Pandyas inscriptions mentions this place as Keeranur Nattu Idaikattur alias Azhakiya Pandiyanallur. There were two  Shiva Temples in this Village named as  Thirumanikandeswarar Kovil, Varakunisuvarar Koyil. The Varakunisuvarar temple was destroyed Completely. It was also told that a Jain School existed with a Tirthankara statue and both are not there now. During Pandiyas Rule this place was Administered by Kalavazhinadalwan, a Village Chief. Inscriptions also mentions that there were two merchant’s streets called “Mandalikembeeran Peruntheru”. A land was donated to  Kalayar Kovil Thiruvarur Dakshina Kokila madam ( Saiva Sikamani madam ). In addition to this there was a Saiva madam in this village.

The temple was reconstructed during Maravarman Sundara Pandyan-I, and the old inscriptions are copied and inscribed again after reconstruction. On birth days of Sadaya Varman Sundara Pandyan-I, Maravarman Kulasekara Pandyan-I ( 1207 CE ), special poojas are performed and donations were also made for this. The Inscriptions also mentions there was a conflict with Devaradiyars. Also there was a scale to measure the lands inscribed on the adhisthana.

The inscriptions mainly speaks about abolition of Taxes, donation of Lands with boundaries, to create Nandhavanam, food for the Thiruvarur Keezhai Saiva Madam, the paddy to be supplied to the temple in lieu of the land received. 

Readers are advised not to trace the inscriptions at the temple. The inscriptions are recorded in the Avanam 1997. After that renovations were carried out and the inscriptions were completely wiped out. Now the temple looks like a new one. 
  
 Sri Subramaniyar Temple

TEMPLE TIMINGS:
The temple will be opened between 08.00 hrs to 11.00 hrs  and evening is unpredictable.

HOW TO REACH:
On Madurai to Dhanuskodi national Highway get down at Muthtanenthal before Manamadurai. From there share autos are available to Idaikattur.
Nearest Railway station is Manamadurai.

LOCATION: CLICK HERE

Subramaniyar sannadhi
 Vinayagar Sannadhi before the entrance

 Nataraja - Stone
 Idumban sannadhi with Agnukundam 
 Dwarapalaka & Dhakshinamurthy
---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---

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