The visit to this Sri Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple
at Karaikudi was a part
of the Shiva and Vishnu Temples of Pudukkottai and Sivagangai Districts Visit on 23rd
& 24th September 2023. This Meenakshi
Sundareswarar Temple at Karaikudi is generally known as “Nagara Sivan Koil”
and the same is in the heart of the City of Karaikudi. This place was once called Karaikudi.
Moolavar : Sri
Sundareswarar
Consort :
Sri Meenakshi
Some of the salient features of this Temple are...
The temple faces east with a 5-tier Rajagopuram, and the temple tank is on the south side. Dwajasthambam, balipeedam, and Rishabam
are in the open mukha mandapam. Moolavar is on a square avudayar. Natarajar
Sabha and utsavars are in the ardha mandapam. In koshtam, Vinayagar,
Sarabeswarar, Dakshinamurthy,
Lingothbavar, Brahma, and Durgai.
In praharam, Somaskandar, Kasi Viswanathar,
Visalakshi, Sundara Vinayagar, Valli DevaSena Subramanian, Nalvar, 63var,
Tripurasundari, Gajalakshmi, Saraswati, 63var, Navagrahas, Bairavar, Chandran, and Suriyan.
Ambal is in a separate sannidhi with Dwajasthambam,
Balipeedam, and Rishabam. Ambal is in a standing posture with abhaya varada hastam. Pradosha poojas will be conducted
at the Rishabam in front of the Ambal Shrine also.
ARCHITECTURE
The temple consists of the sanctum sanctorum, antarala,
ardha mandapam, and an open mukha mandapam. The open Mukha mandapam was built
in recent years with cement and concrete. The main shrine and Parivara
sannidhis are constructed on an upanam and adhistanam with jagathy, kumudam, and
pattikai. The bhitti starts with vedikai. The pilasters are with a square base, nagabandham, kalasam, kudam, lotus petals, mandi palakai, and pushpa pothyal. The
walls have many bas reliefs, such as Bairavar, Natarajar in Oorthuda Thandavam,
etc. The prastaram consists of valapi, kapotam, and vyyalavari. The koshtas are
padra and sala style. The main shrine wall was built with black stones. Kumbha
panjaras are in the karna pathi and antarala wall. A 3-tier stucco nagara vimanam
is on the sanctum sanctorum.
A 12 Rasi bas relief is on the ceiling after
Rajagopuram. The praharam ceiling was painted with Shiva with Meenakshi’s
Kalyana kolam, Ambal’s various forms, etc.
HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS
It is believed that the original temple was
constructed by the Pandya King
Maravarman Kulasekara Pandyan during the 13th – 14th century.
The original dilapidated temple was reconstructed and brought back to worship
by the Nattukottai Nagarathar, keeping some parts of the original
temple. This Nagara Shiva temple was re-constructed and consecrated on 22nd
April 1872. The Rajagopuram was constructed by Karaikudi Rama. Atha. Ramanathan
Chettiar and consecrated on 10th September 1888 CE.
The Electric lamp in front of the temple was gifted
by Sri Panai, Me. Me. Palaniappa Chettiar on 17th May 1940.
The Temple tank was desilted, and Nandavanam was created
by the Chettiar clan of Karaikudi, Ilayathangudi, Okkur, and Rama. Sa. Ra. Pangalis and SL. NS Narayan
Chettiar on 04th August 2006.
LEGENDS
As per the Legend, Shri Shiva came to this earth as
Sundareswarar and Married Sri Meenakshi, the daughter of the Pandya king. This
legend applies to the Madurai Meenakshi Amman temple. Many temples in Tamil
Nadu are named the Sri Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple. Hence, Thirukalyana Utsavam will be held similarly to Madurai, during the annual festival or
Brahmotsavam.
Once, "Karai" plants were grown abundantly in
Karaikudi. Hence, this place was called Karaikudi.
POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS
Apart from regular poojas, special poojas are
conducted on Pradosham, Maha Shivaratri, Vinayagar Chaturthi, Amavasya,
Pournami, Nataraja Abhishekam, Ashtami Theipirai, Navaratri, Sashti, Panguni
Uthiram, to Sarabeswarar on Sundays, Rahu Ketu Peyarchi, Shani Peyarchi, etc.
Meenakshi Sundareswarar Thirukalyana Utsavam will
be celebrated in the month of Margazhi, and Shiva and Meenakshi, Vinayagar, Murugan
with his consorts, and Chandikeswarar will be taken in procession.
TEMPLE TIMINGS
The temple will be kept open from 06.30 hrs to
12.00 hrs, and from 17.30 hrs to 20.00 hrs.
CONTACT DETAILS
The landline number +91 4565 231 507 of the
Temple may be contacted for further details.
HOW TO REACH
This Sri Meenakshi Sundareswarar temple is about 2
km from Karaikudi Bus Stand, 3 km from Karaikudi Railway Station.
The nearest Railway Station is Karaikudi.
LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE
--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---
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