| Description This Divya
Desam is located on the railroad between Karaikkudi and Pudukkottai and is a rock cut fort
temple dating back to the Pallava period. Deities: The Moolavar here
is Satyagirinathan, in a standing posture facing east. Taayaar here is Uyyavanda
Naachiyaar. Tirumangaialwar refers to Vishnu here as 'Tirumeyya Malaiyaala'.
Legend has it that the demons who surreptitiously tried to steal the
image of Perumal were warded off by the poisonous fumes emitted by Adi Seshan, who stood
guard.
The Temple: This is a beautiful rock cut temple with interesting
images in bas relief. The rock cut image of Satyagirinathan in a reclining posture
flanked by Garuda, Chitragupta, Markandeya, Bhrahma, the gods and the rishis is an
imposing one. The fort has entrances in the north, south and southeast directions whose
guardian deities are believed to be Bhairava, Hanuman, Shakti and Ganapati, and the grama
devata karuppu. There are shrines to Aandaal, Krishna, Lakshmi Narasimha.
Also here is the rock cut Satyagireeswarar temple, enshrining Satyagireeswarar (Shiva)
and Venuvaneswari (Parvati). This temple dates back to the period of Mahendra Varma
Pallavan. There sanctum and the ardhamandapam to Shiva are rock cut. There is a shrine to
Valampuri Vinayakar here. There are also bronze images to Natarajar and Somaskandar and
several other beautiful rock carvings here. Four worship services are offered each day and
the annual festival is celebrated in the month of Chittirai. |
