Moolanathaswamy Temple, Bahour – The Temple

Moolanathaswamy Temple, Bahour – The Temple

The Temple is east facing with a 4 pillared Mandapam as the front entrance. The Temple has single prakaram. Nandi, Dwajastambam and Balipeedam can be found immediately after the entrance.

Sanctum:

The Sanctum Sanctorum consists of Maha Mandapam, Artha Mandapam and Sanctum. Presiding Deity is called as Moolanatha Swamy / Thiru Moolasthanam Udaiyar and is facing east. He is housed in the sanctum in the form of big Lingam. Sculptures of uniquely carved Yalis can be found in the Artha Mandapam.

The pilasters have a square shaft with Kalasam, Kumbham and Palagai. The brackets are angular in profile. The cornice has Kudus semicircular in shape with a human head in the center and a Simha head at the top. There is a Bhootaganas frieze below the cornice. Sacred bulls adorn the four corners of the floor of the griva.

Koshta Idols:

Nritta Ganesha, Dakshinamoorthy, Vishnu, Brahma and Vishnu Durga are the Koshta idols located around the sanctum walls. All the Koshta Idols are dated to 10^th Century AD. The temple had undergone modifications in later times; but the walls of the sanctum and the devakoshta figures can be considered parts of the original temple.

Below the Devakoshtam, there are exquisite carvings in a row of dancers in different poses and musicians playing different instruments are found. These carvings run around the sanctum walls. There is a sculpture of a mother monkey sitting behind a baby monkey.

Vinayaga Shrine:

There is a sub shrine for Vinayaga on the right side of the Maha Mandapam.

Thirugnana Sambandar Shrine:

There is a sub shrine for Thirugnana Sambandar on the left side of the Maha Mandapam.

Chandikeswarar Shrine:

Chandikeswarar Shrine can be found in his usual location.

Mother Shrine:

Mother is called as Vedhambigai. She is housed in a separate south facing shrine. Her shrine is situated in Maha Mandapam to the left side of the sanctum.

Suryan Shrine:

There is a west facing shrine for Lord Suryan on the left side immediately after the entrance on the compound wall.

Bhairavar Shrine:

There is a west facing shrine for Lord Bhairavar on the right side immediately after the entrance on the compound wall.

Vimochanamudaiyar Shrine:

There is a separate shrine for Vimochanamudaiyar to the right side of the sanctum in the outer courtyard. He is facing west. Nandi can be found facing this shrine. The Linga is big and might have been brought from some other place as the temple doesn’t have any records about this Lingam.

Varasiddhi Vinayaga Shrine:

There is a shrine for Varasiddhi Vinayaga facing east in the outer courtyard behind the sanctum.

Subrahmanya Shrine:

There is also another east facing shrine for Lord Murugan with his consorts Valli & Deivanai in the outer courtyard behind the sanctum.

Thirushobanamudaiyar Shrine:

There is a separate shrine for Thirushobanamudaiyar to the left side of the sanctum in the outer courtyard. He is facing east. There is no Nandi in front of his shrine. The Linga is big and might have been brought from some other place as the temple doesn’t have any records about this Lingam.

Navagraha Shrine:

Navagraha shrine can be found opposite to Thirushobanamudaiyar Shrine.

Pongu Saneeswarar Shrine:

There is a west facing shrine for Pongu Saneeswarar to the left side of the sanctum in the outer courtyard. It is located near to Navagraha Shrine.

Nataraja Sabha:

Nataraja Sabha housing bronze idol of Nataraja and his consort Shivagami can be found in the north east corner of the Temple premises.

Sthala Vriksham:

Sthala Vriksham is Vanni Tree. It is situated to the left side of Thirushobanamudaiyar Shrine.