Ammankurichi Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple, Pudukottai

Address
Ammankurichi Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple, Pudukottai
Ammankurichi, Pudukottai district,
Tamil Nadu 622401
Moolavar
Sundareswarar / Chokkanathar
Amman
Meenakshi
Introduction
- Location: Ammankurichi Village, Ponnamaravathi Taluk, Pudukottai District, Tamil Nadu, India.
- Age: Believed to be 500 years old.
- Historical Significance: Constructed by the Madurai Nayak Dynasty and is one of the protected monuments declared by the Archaeological Survey of India.
- Proximity: Located about 6 km from Koppanapatty, on the Pudukottai to Ponnamaravathi route.
Puranic Significance:
- The temple faces east and features a three-tiered Rajagopuram at the entrance.
- Mukha Mandapam: Found in front of the Rajagopuram, connecting the outer and inner sections of the temple.
- Balipeedam, Dhwaja Sthambam, and Nandi: Positioned in the mandapam, facing the sanctum.
Special Features:
- Presiding Deity: Sundareswarar / Chokkanathar (Lord Shiva), housed in the sanctum in the form of a Shiva Lingam, facing east.
- Koshta Idols: Dakshinamoorthy, Vishnu, and Durga are located around the sanctum walls.
- Chandikeswarar Shrine: Positioned in the usual location.
- Subramanya Shrine: Found in the inner prakaram.
- Cloistered Mandapa: Running around the compound wall in the inner prakaram.
- Pillared Mandapa: Supported by lion capitals in the inner prakaram.
- Inscriptions:
- One recording the wages of the temple officials and administration activities.
- Another inscription documenting endowments made by the Nayak Kings.
- Mother Meenakshi: Housed in a separate south-facing shrine in the maha mandapam.
- Sculptures on Pillars: Depict Nayak Kings and their queens.













Festivals
Pradoshams and Somavarams (Mondays) are celebrated in this temple with much fanfare
References
https://tamilnadu-favtourism.blogspot.com
Century/Period
500 years old.
Nearest Bus Station
Koppanapatty
Nearest Railway Station
Pudukkottai Station
Nearest Airport
Trichy