The visit to the Sri Somanathar Temple at Authoor
was part of the “Temples and Heritage Sites of Thoothukudi District Visit” on 15th
February 2025. Authoor comprises Vadakku Authoor, Mel Authoor, and Therku Authoor. This temple is in Vadakku Authoor.
Moolavar : Sri Somasundarar
Consort : Sri Somasundari
Some
of the salient features of this temple are….
The
temple faces east with a mukha mandapam. Stucco images of Shiva and Parvati,
Vinayagar, Murugan, and a devotee are on the top of the mukha mandapam.
Dwajasthambam and balipeedam are in the mukha mandapam. Moolavar in the
sanctum is on a round avudayar. Dwarapalakas, Vinayagar, and Murugan are at the
entrance of the sanctum sanctorum. In koshtam Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Maha
Vishnu, Brahma, and Durga.
In the praharam Chandikeswarar,
Navagrahas, Bairavar, Suryan, 63var, Somaskandar, Natarajar with Sivakami, and
Chandran.
Ambal
is in a separate sannidhi facing south. Ambal is in a standing posture with
abhaya varada hastam.
ARCHITECTURE
The
temple consists of the sanctum sanctorum, antarala, and ardha mandapam. The sanctum
sanctorum is on a pada bandha adhistanam with jagathy, threepatta kumudam, and
pattikai. The bhitti starts with vedikai. The pilasters are of Brahma kantha
pilasters with kalasam, kudam, palakai, and vettu pothyal. The prastaram is simple with valapi and kapotam. A two-tier brick vesara vimanam is on the bhumi
desam. Stucco images of Shiva, Dakshinamurthy, Maha Vishnu, and Brahma are in
the tala and greeva koshtams.
The
mukha mandapam was extended by the Vijayanagaras. Donor sculptures are on the
pillars. The mandapa beams have the Ramayan bas reliefs.
HISTORY
AND INSCRIPTIONS
The
original temple belonged to the Pandya period and later received contributions from the Chozhas and Vijayanagaras.
Maha
Kumbhabhishekam was conducted in 2022.
Donors
POOJAS
AND CELEBRATIONS
Apart
from regular poojas, special poojas are conducted on Fridays, Pournami,
Amavasya days, Pradosham, Maha Shivaratri, etc.
TEMPLE
TIMINGS
The
temple will be kept open from 07.00 hrs to 12.00 hrs and from 17.00 hrs to 20.00
hrs.
CONTACT
DETAILS
HOW
TO REACH
This
place, Authoor, is on the Thoothukudi to Thiruchendur bus route, on the banks of the Thamirabarani River, and the temple is about 300 meters off the main road.
The
temple is 16 km from Thiruchendur and 25.4 km from Thoothukudi.
The
nearest Railway Station is Thiruchendur.
LOCATION
OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE
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OM SHIVAYA NAMA---
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