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.
