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

Location on Map

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