Adavalleeswarar Temple, Munnur – The Temple

Adavalleeswarar Temple, Munnur – The Temple

This is a rare south facing temple dating from the Chola period. Balipeedam, Dwajastambam and Nandhi can be found on a raised platform facing the sanctum located outside the Temple. The temple tank is situated on the right side of the Temple. The remains of Rajagopuram can be found after the Nandi. The Sanctum sanctorum consists of sanctum, antarala, Arthamandapam, Madhavarayan Mandapam (16 pillared Muhamandapam), Mahamandapam and a front Mukamandapam.

The sanctum sanctorum is situated at an elevated level, since the floor level is maintained from the base of the upanam ( in most of the temples upanam will not be visible). The sanctum Adhishtanam is a Padmabandha Adhishtanam. The Yazhivarai is just above the pattika. The sanctum kumudam is virutha style, whereas the mandapa kumudam is of three faced one. Presiding Deity is called as Adavalleeswarar and is facing south.

He is housed in the sanctum in the form of Lingam. Lord is a Swayambhu Moorthy. He is housed in a round Avudayar on a padma Peedam and the Komugam is on the east side instead of usual north side. The Sanctum is situated in a structure like Neerazhi Mandapam. Vinayaga, Dakshinamurthy, Vishnu, Brahma and Durga are the Koshta Idols located around the sanctum walls.

Even though the temple is facing south, the deva Koshta idols are positioned in the clock wise direction from Vinayaga to Durga keeping Vishnu on the back of the presiding deity. Normally, Dakshinamoorthy will be facing south but in this Temple, he is facing east. Bhooda Gana series can be seen on the top of pothiyal. The three tier Vesara vimana is above the sanctum. Chandikeswarar can be found in his usual location.

Mother is called as Brahan Nayaki / Periya Nayaki. Her Shrine is situated in the Mukamandapam and she is facing west. The Temple has three Mothers – Brihannayagi, Eswari and Kamakshi. Brahan Nayagi was originally in a separate east facing shrine, called Kamakotta Nachiyar / Kamakshi, on the east side of the temple. Her Shrine was destroyed during Muslim invasion, a New Mother Shrine was built in the Muhamandapam during 1978 Kumbabhishekam. The damaged Mother Idol is kept outside under a shed. The pillars are used for reconstruction of the front mandapam.

There is also another Thayar (called as Eswari) Idol in the Temple premises. There is a Panel containing the reliefs of Brahma, Shiva Lingam, Parvathi, Murugan and Narasimha. This panel was  made out of soap stone and belongs to 7^th to 8^th Century.  There is a statue of Navakandam (Offering of head to Kali for the wellbeing of the king or to get a Victory in the war) and an idol of Thavvai Thai (Jyeshta Devi) in the front Mandapam. These were under worship up to 11^th  Century  and latter it was discontinued.

There is sculpture of Chandran in front of Rajagopuram base. This Chandran, Jyeshta Devi and Navakandam statues are found out during cleaning of the Temple tank. There is a sculpture of a King, colourfully painted in one the pillars. It is believed that it might be Rajendra Chozha-I, since the earliest inscription in this Temple belongs to him. There is a Sapthamadha panel broken in to three pieces & belongs to 12^th Century AD.

There are shrines of Selva Periya Vinayagar, Ayyapan, Lord Subramanya with his consorts Valli & Devasena, Viswanathar, Nataraja Kailasanathar, 63 Nayanmars, Utsava Idols, Vijaya Anjaneya, Surya, Palani Andavar, Bhairava, Navagrahas and Nandikeswarar in the Temple premises. The idol of Muruga and his Peacock Vahana is created from a single stone. Sthala Vriksham is Vanni Tree. Vinayaga and Naga Idols can be seen under the Sthala Vriksham.  Theertham associated with this Temple is Brahma Theertham.