10th
May 2109.
I
was invited to attend a marriage on 10th May 2019, at Idaikattur near Manamadurai near Madurai. The FB friend's posts with the temple’s inscriptions created further interest. The
village Idaikattur has a Perumal Temple, Ayyanar Temple, Idaikadar Siddhar
Temple, and a 19th-century Church too. The marriage was conducted at this Shiva Temple.
Moolavar : Sri Aazhi Manikandeswarar
(This Aazhi was added in recent years only)
(This Aazhi was added in 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 faces east with a balipeedam and a Rishabam / Idabam. There is no Dwajasthambam for the Shiva Temple. Sannadhi for Vinayagar, Nataraja (in stone), Kalabhairava, Chandran, and Suriyan.
In
koshtam Dakshinamurthy and Durgai.
In
the outer praharam sannadhi for Kannimoola Ganapathy, Sri Valli Devasena
Subramaniar (The sannadhi is like a
Temple with Dwajasthambam, balipeedam, and Peacock vahana – The local people
refer to this Shiva Temple as Subramaniar Temple, Chandikeswarar, and Ambal Soundarambal Temple. The Ambal faces east in a temple-like
Sannadhi with a sanctum, antarala, and an
Artha mandapam.
ARCHITECTURE
The temple consists of the sanctum sanctorum, antarala, artha mandapam, and a mukha mandapam. A 2-tier Vimanam is over the sanctum.
HISTORY
& INSCRIPTIONS:
The
temple existed before the 13th century CE. The latter period, 13th-century Pandyas inscriptions mention this place as Keeranur Nattu Idaikattur, alias Azhakiya Pandiyanallur. There were two Shiva Temples in this village, named Thirumanikandeswarar Kovil and Varakunisuvarar
Koyil. The Varakunisuvarar temple was completely destroyed. It was also said
that a Jain School existed with a Tirthankara statue, but neither is there
now. During Pandiya's Rule, this place was administered by Kalavazhinadalwan, a
Village Chief. Inscriptions also mention that there were two merchant
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 were copied and inscribed again after reconstruction. On the birthdays
of Sadaya Varman Sundara Pandyan-I and Maravarman Kulasekara Pandyan-I (1207 CE),
special poojas are performed, and donations are also made for this. The
Inscriptions also mention there was a conflict with Devaradiyars. Also, there
was a scale to measure the lands inscribed on the adhisthana.
The
inscriptions mainly speak about the abolition of Taxes, donation of Lands with
boundaries, to creation of Nandhavanam, food for the Thiruvarur Keezhai Saiva Madam, and the paddy to be supplied to the temple in place of the land received.
Readers are advised not to trace the inscriptions at the temple. The inscriptions are recorded in Avanam 1997. After that, renovations were carried out and the inscriptions were completely wiped out. Now the temple looks like a new one.
Readers are advised not to trace the inscriptions at the temple. The inscriptions are recorded in 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 open from 08.00 hrs to 11.00 hrs, and the evening is unpredictable.
HOW TO REACH:
On the Madurai to Dhanuskodi National Highway, get down at Muthtanenthal before
Manamadurai. From there, share autos are available to Idaikattur.
The nearest
Railway Station is Manamadurai.
LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE
Subramaniyar sannadhi
Vinayagar Sannadhi before the entrance
Nataraja - Stone
Idumban sannadhi with Agnukundam
Dwarapalaka & Dhakshinamurthy
---OM
SHIVAYA NAMA---
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