Sunday, 19 January 2025

Sri Desikanathar Temple/ஸ்ரீ தேசிகநாதர் கோயில், சூரக்குடி/Soorakudi, Sivaganga District, Tamil Nadu.

கும்பகோணம் வட்டார வரலாற்று ஆய்வு சங்கத்தினரால் 2024, டிசம்பர் மாதம் 14அம் தேதி அன்று ஏற்பாடு செய்யப்பட்ட காரைக்குடி மரபு நடையின் ஒருபகுதியே இந்த  சூரக்குடி ஸ்ரீ தேசிகநாதர் சிவன் கோயில் விஜயம். சூரக்குடி, சிவகங்கை மாவட்டத்தின் கானாடுகாத்தானுக்கு 2 மைல் தெற்காகவும், காரைக்குடிக்கு 6 மைல் வடக்காகவும், திருப்புத்தூருக்கு 13 மைல் வடகிழக்காகவும் உள்ளது. திரு தேசிகநாதர் கோயில் நாட்டுக்கோட்டைச் செட்டியார்களின் ஒன்பது கோயில்களில் ஒன்று.


The visit to this Sri Desikanathar Temple at Soorakudi was a part of the Karaikudi Heritage Walk on 14th December 2024, organised by Kumbakonam Vattara Varalatru Aayvu Sangam. This place, Soorakudi, is about 2 miles from Kanadukathan, 6 miles from Karaikudi, and 13 miles from Tiruppatur in Sivaganga District. Sri Desikanathar Temple at Soorakudi is one of the Nine Nattukottai Chettiars Temples.

Moolavar: Sri Desikanathar
Consort  : Sri Avudainayaki

Some of the Salient features of this temple are…
The temple faces east with a 5-tier Rajagopuram. The Second-level Rajagopuram is of 3 tiers. Dwajasthambam, balipeedam, and Rishabam are after the second-level Rajagopuram. Dwarapalakas, Vinayagar, and Murugan, as Dhandapani, are on both sides of the entrance to the Sanctum Sanctorum. In kostam Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Lingothbavar, Brahma, and Durga. Utsavars and Nataraja with Sivagami are in the ardha mandapam.

In praharam Suriyan, 63var, Chandrasekhara, Bairavar, Vinayagar, Sri Valli Devasena Murugan, Gajalakshmi, Saraswati, Navagrahas, Chandran, and Chandikeswarar.

Ambal Avudainayaki is in a separate sannidhi facing south. Ambal is in a standing posture with abhaya varada hastam. Ambal with three eyes (Shiva Roopa) and 8 hands (Ashtabhujam) holding various weapons.

Bairavar is in a separate sannidhi facing South, near Ambal sannidhi. Special poojas are done on Janmashtami and Theipirai Ashtami days. Aarathi was shown to Bairavar and offered to devotees similar to Moolavar. 




ARCHITECTURE
The temple consists of the sanctum sanctorum, antarala, ardha mandapam, and maha mandapam. The sanctum sanctorum is on a upanam and a pada bandha adhistanam with jagathy, vrudha kumudam, and pattikai. The bhitti starts with vedikai. The pilasters are of Vishnukantha pilasters with square base, naga bandham, kalasam, kudam, lotus petals mandi, palakai, and pushpa pothyal. The koshtas are padra koshtas with Padma jagathy, kumudam, and kapotam. The Prastaram consists of valapi and kapotam with nasi kudus. The superstructure above prastaram was built with bricks. The vesara vimanam is of two talas. Shiva, Dakshinamurthy, Maha Vishnu, and Brahma are on the tala and greeva Kostas.

The corridor pillars have beautiful sculptures of Oorthuva Thandavar, Kali, Vinayagar, Murugan, Brahma, Surya worshipping Shiva, and other Deities.  The Rajagopuram is 50 feet tall.

The Dakshinamurthy is with greedam, and the kallala maram is sculpted beautifully. Munivar, in front of Dakshinamurthy, also looks with a different headgear. A mandapam was built in front of Dakshinamurthy, and the pillars are black granite stone, supported by lion sculptures.






HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS
120 வருடங்களுக்கு முன்பாகக் கட்டப்பட்டஇவ்வாலய கோபுரம் 50 அடி உயரம் உடையதாக உள்ளது. இக்கோயிலுக்கு அரை மைல் தெற்காக சிவகங்கை, சமஸ்தானத்தைச் சேர்ந்த பழைய சிவன் கோயில் ஒன்றும் உள்ளது.

This place was also called Desikanathapuram. The original temple belongs to the 07- 08th Century, built during the Pandyas period. The present structure was built by Nattukottai Chettiars about 120 years ago.

Maha Kumbhabhishekam was conducted on 9th September 1973, 10th July 1994, and 17th June 2007. The temple is preparing for the Kumbhabhishekam.

The temple is being maintained by the Sivagangai Samasthanam.

Soorkkudi Kovil Nagarathar is said to have found nine Idols made of Ahimbon that were buried deep, at the site of the present Temple, before it was built, and the first known Kumbhabhishekam was held in 1898. It is believed that to avoid burglary by Theevetti Kollai Karan, probably Mohammedan invaders and Palayakkarars (Zamindars), their ancestors may have buried these Idols.

Ref:
Sivagangai Mavatta Tholliyal Kaiyedu



LEGENDS
This place was once covered with Soorai plants/shrubs. Hence called Soorakudi.

As per the Sthala Purana, Veerabhadra destroyed the Yaga conducted by Daksha. Surya came to this temple to get rid of the sin caused by attending Daksha’s Yaga. Hence, this place was called Suryakudi, which has been corrupted to the present name of Soorakudi.

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS
Apart from regular poojas, special poojas are conducted on pradosam, Maha Shivaratri, Fridays, Theipirai Ashtami day, etc. Special poojas are conducted for Bhairava on Ashtami days.

TEMPLE TIMINGS
The temple will be kept open from 07.00 hrs to 12.00 hrs, and from 16.00 hrs to 19.30 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS
The landline number +914565-281575 may be contacted for further details.

HOW TO REACH
The temple is about 4 km from Kanadukathan, 11 km from Karaikudi and Kundrakudi, and 63 km from Pudukkottai.
The nearest Railway Station is Karaikudi.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

 Kali
 Shiva as Oorthuva Thandavar

 Bairavar
 Maha Vishnu
Maha Vishnu
---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---

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