Chokkalingapuram Meenakshi Chokkanathar Temple, Aruppukottai

Address

Chokkalingapuram Meenakshi Chokkanathar Temple, Chokkalingapuram, Tiruchuzhi Road, Aruppukottai – 626101.

Diety

Chokkanathar Amman: Meenakshi

Introduction

Location: Chokkalingapuram, near Aruppukottai in Virudhunagar district, Tamil Nadu.
Architecture: Modeled similarly to the famous Meenakshi Temple in Madurai. The temple features a Rajagopuram with five levels, each adorned with five urns.
Deities: The presiding deity is Lord Shiva, known as Chokkanathar, and the goddess is Meenakshi. The temple layout resembles the Madurai Meenakshi Temple, where Meenakshi stands on the right side of Lord Shiva, symbolizing their divine union.
Sannidhis (Shrines): To the right of the Shiva Sannidhi is the shrine of Somaskandar, followed by the Meenakshi Sannidhi.

Puranic Significance:

Legend of the Temple’s Construction: The temple’s origin is tied to the story of King Maravarma Sundarapandiya and Rajaguru Paranjothi, a revered sage. When the king failed to respond to the Rajaguru’s urgent visit, the sage left, and the king later realized his mistake. Seeking forgiveness, the king visited the sage, who instructed him to build a temple for Lord Shiva at Aruppukottai, also known as Sengatti Rukai Idattuvali, to remove the effects of the curse from the insult. The temple, dedicated to Sokkanathar, was built by the king to atone for his error.

Beliefs:

Education and Blessings: Devotees believe that anointing Dakshinamurthy and Saraswati Devi at this temple brings success in education.
Marriage and Fertility: As the temple is linked to Somaskanda, it is considered an auspicious site to remove marriage obstacles and seek blessings for children.
Special Worship: It is believed to be particularly beneficial for women, especially during certain auspicious periods.

Special Features:

Solar Phenomenon: From March 20 to 30, sunlight directly falls upon the main deity, Chokkanathar, illuminating the sanctum.
Ganesha Worship: Before entering the main shrine, devotees customarily worship Staircase Ganesha, who offers a unique darshan with a beard. This ritual involves breaking scattering (likely symbolic offerings).

Festivals:

Festivals Similar to Madurai Meenakshi Temple: All major festivals are celebrated with grandeur, akin to the festivities at the Madurai Meenakshi Temple.
Tamil New Year: A special anointing service is held for four priests and the Nayans, followed by the presentation of new clothes.
Tiruvilakku Puja: Held on the last Friday of the Tamil month, this worship is particularly significant for the devotees.

The Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple at Chokkalingapuram is a spiritual and architectural mirror of the renowned Meenakshi Temple in Madurai, offering blessings for education, marriage, and overall prosperity.