Parvatheeswarar Temple, Tiruthelicheri, Karaikal – The Temple

Parvatheeswarar Temple, Tiruthelicheri, Karaikal – The Temple

This west facing temple’s main tower (Rajagopuram) has 5-tiers and it has 2 corridors. The temple faces west and has a separate shrine for Karaikkal Ammaiyar. The Maha Mandapam and the Artha Mandapam are on the left side. Presiding Deity is called as Parvatheeswarar / Sameevaneswarar. Lord Shiva in this temple is a Swayambumurthy (self-manifested). The Sun’s rays illuminate the sanctum at sunset for a period of 10 days from the 13th day of the Tamil month of Panguni.

Lord Shiva with his name Kirathamurthy appears in a hunter form. Dwarabalakars legs are on the singamugasurar’s head. Moolavar is under a silver mandapam. Mother is called as Swayamvara Tapasvini / Shakthi Nayaki / Ampaduttakkannaal. Ambal is seen in separate sanctum facing south. She blesses devotees with wedding boons. The procession idol of Lord Shiva here as “Sri Kirathamurthy” with Goddess Parvathy is very beautiful and unique. Lord Shiva is in the form of a farmer with a plough over his shoulders and Goddess Parvathy appears as a farmer’s wife.

Sthalavruksham are Vilvam and Vanni Trees. Theertham associated with this Temple are Shakti Theertham, Surya Pushkarani, Guha Theertham and Devi Theertham. Mahalingam/ Bramamalingam due to Brahma worshiped, Rajalingam due to Ambarisha worshiped, Bhaskara Lingam due to Suryan worshiped are in the prakaram. There is also a separate shrine for Saneeswaran with his wife Renuka Devi in the corridors.

In this temple, there are some beautiful reliefs depicting the legends from Sthala Puranam like Goddess Parvathy worshiping the lord who can be seen in the form of a farmer; Lord Suryan and Saint Gnanasambandhar worshipping Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvathy.  There is another relief that depicts Arjuna worshiping Lord Shiva who is seen in the form of a hunter. 

Lords Vinayaka, Muruga with his consorts Valli and Deivanai, Lingodhbava, Dakshinamurthy, Chandikeswara, Nataraja, Bhairava, Chandrasekhara and Mothers Mahalakshmi, Durgadevi and Saivite Acharyas, Navagrahas the nine planets, Sun, 63 Nayanmars, Vanni Lingam, Narthana Ganapathy, Ambal worshiping Lord Shiva, Sri Veda Roopam, Pidariamman, Giratha moorthy & Ambal, Somaskandar and Sani Bhagwan are in separate shrines in the prakara.  Lord Vinayaka is praised as Sambandha Vinayaka.