The
visit to this Sri Sozhapureeswarar Temple at Sholinghur was a part of the 596th
week abhishekam to Shiva and Ambal, by the Ancient
Shiva Temples and Sivamayam
Group on 05th April, 2026.
Moolavar : Sri Sozhapureeswarar
Consort : Sri Kanakakusambal, Sri Ponmulai Nayagi
Some
of the salient features of this temple are…
The
temple faces east with an entrance arch. Stucco images of Vinayagar, Nalvar,
Shiva & Parvati, and Murugan are on the top of the entrance arch. A
Vinayagar temple is in front of the entrance arch. A 5-tier Rajagopuram is at the south-side entrance. Entrance to the Shiva and Ambal temple sannidhis is
from the east and south. Vinayagar and Murugan, with Valli Devasena, are at the
south side entrance mandapam. Stucco images of Vinayagar, Shiva, and Parvati as
Rishabaroodar and Sri Valli Devaseana Subramaniar are on the top of the south
side entrance mandapam. A balipeedam and a Rishabam are in front of the sanctum
sanctorum and in the praharam. A Banalingam, Nagar, and Vinayagar are on the
left side of the entrance to the antarala. Moolavar is on a round avudaiyar. In koshtam, Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Maha Vishnu, Brahma, and Durgai.
In
the inner praharam, Chandikeswarar, Nalvar, Natarajar with Sivakami and Manickavasagar,
and Palliyarai.
Ambal,
Sri Kanakakusambal, is in a separate temple that faces east on the north side of the inner
praharam. Vinayagar is on the left side of the entrance to Ambal’s shrine.
Ambal is in a standing posture with abhayavarada hastam. A maha meru is in
front of the temple.
In
the outer praharam, Shiva Lingam & Rishabam with Nagar, a Shiva Linga banam
without avudaiyar, Bairavar, Navagrahas, Chandran, Suryan, Balipeedam,
Dwajasthamabam with Rishabam, and balipeedam with Simham.
Durgai
ARCHITECTURE
The
temple was constructed with stone from adhistanam to prastaram and the vimanam over
the prastaram was constructed with bricks. The temple consists of the sanctum
sanctorum, antarala, ardha mandapam/ maha mandapam, common for the Shiva and
Ambal sannidhi. The sanctum sanctorum is on a pada panda adhistanam, with
jagathy, Muppattai kumudam, and pattikai. (Inside floor level was raised up to
vedikai level, all three adhistanam components are not visible. The bhitti
starts with vedikai. The pilasters are of Brahmakantha pilasters with kalasam,
kudam, lotus petals mandi, palakai, veera kandam, and vettu pothyal. The
prastaram consists of valapi and kapotam with nasi kudus.
The
brick vimanam is of one tala, greevam, and a vesara sigaram. Shiva,
Dakshinamurthy, Maha Vishnu, and Brahma are in the tala and greeva koshtams.
Pilaster with Vettu pothyal
A common ardha / Maha mandapam
HISTORY
AND INSCRIPTIONS
The
original temple belongs to the 10th to 11th century CE. Later
received contributions from Vijayanagaras. Chozha and Vijayanagara period inscriptions are found on the Rajagopuram’s
kalkaram, here and there. The temple was reconstructed in recent years. Water
wash was done before the February 2026 Maha Kumbhabhishekam.
A
new Rajagopuram was constructed after 300 years, and Maha Kumbhabhishekam was
conducted on 3rd September 2009.
Maha
Kumbhabhishekam was conducted on, 01st, September 1982, 09th
December 2012, and February 2026.
10th - 11th Century inscriptions on the Rajagopuram Kalkaram - Kept upside down
LEGENDS
POOJAS
AND CELEBRATIONS
Apart from regular poojas, special poojas
are conducted on pradosham, Maha Shivaratri, Vinayagar, Chaturthi, Kandar
Sashti, Thai Poosam, Somavaras, Pournami, Amavasya, Sankadahara Chaturthi,
Kirithigai, Ashtami, Sashti, Guru Poojas, Brahmotsavam, etc.
TEMPLE
TIMINGS
The
temple will be kept open from 07.00 hrs to 12.00 hrs and 17.00 hrs to 20.30
hrs.
CONTACT
DETAILS
Gurukkal
Gautham may be contacted on his mobile number +919043334924 for poojas and further details.
HOW
TO REACH
The
Shiva temple is on the Bazaar St, the heart of Sholinghur Town. The temple is about
3 km from Sholinghur Bus Stand, 26 km from Thiruttani Railway Station, 29 km
from Ranipet, and 30 km from Arakkonam Railway Station.
The
nearest Railway Station is Thiruttani.
LOCATION
OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE
Bana Lingam, Nagar, and Vinayagar
Bairavar
Chandran
Suryan
Nardhana Vinayagar
Palliayarai
The newly constructed Vinayagar temple (completely with stone) is in front of the east side entrance
Yaga sala erected for the recent Maha Kumbhabhishekam
--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---
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