Chandramouleeswar Temple, Thiruvakkarai – Chandramouleeswar Shrine

Chandramouleeswar Temple, Thiruvakkarai – Chandramouleeswar Shrine

The Sanctum Sanctorum consists of Sanctum, Antrala, Ardha Mandapam and Mukha Mandapam. Dvarapalas can be seen at the entrance of the pillared Mukha Mandapam. Another Dvarapalas can be seen at the entrance of Ardha Mandapam. These Dvarapalas can be seen sitting on lion (Simha). Idols of Chandran, Suryan, Vinayaga, Murugan and Veerabhadra can be seen in the Ardha Mandapam.

Presiding Deity is called as Chandramouleeswar / Pirai Soodiya Peruman / Chandrasekhara / Sivalokam Udayar and is facing east. He is housed in the sanctum in the form of Lingam with three faces (Mukha) representing Shiva, Brahma and Vishnu. This representation is known as Sthanumalayan (Sthanu – Shiva, Mal – Vishnu and Ayan – Brahma). Lord is a Swayambhu Moorthy (self-manifested).

There are two famous Lord Shiva temples with Pancha mukha Linga (Linga with five faces) only in Nepal in North and Kalahasthi in South in Andhra Pradesh.  But a three faced Linga (Mummukha Linga) is only at Thiruvakkarai.  The Mukha looking east is Tatpurusha Linga, the one facing north is the Vamadeva Linga and the one facing south is the Agora Linga. The Mukha in Tatpurusha is depicted with crescent moon on his head and with Kundalams in his ears.

The other two faces on either side can be seen through the mirror while Harathi is performed. Agora Linga has two sharp teeth on sides, visible only during abishekams. Pooja is done for the Tatpurusha Linga with turmeric smeared on the face at dawn; at noon, sandal is smeared on the face of Vamadeva Linga, and in the evening, the face of Agoram is smeared with saffron powder (Kungumam).

Vinayaga, Dakshinamurthy, Vishnu, Brahma and Durga are the Koshta idols located around the sanctum walls. Only, Brahma can be seen in the niche (Koshta) and the other idols are kept in ground as they are huge in size. Chandikeswarar Shrine can be seen in his usual location.