Sivapuripatti Syambulingeswarar Temple, Sivaganga

Address

Sivapuripatti Syambulingeswarar Temple, Sivapuripatti village, Sivaganga district, Tamilnadu 630502

Diety

Syambulingeswarar Amman: Dharmasamvardhini

Introduction

The Syambulingeswarar Temple in Sivapuripatti, Sivaganga District, Tamil Nadu, is a significant temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. It is located approximately 60 km away from the city of Madurai and the nearest town is Singampunari.

Deities:

• The presiding deity of the temple is Lord Syambulingeshwarar (Shiva).
• The goddess in the temple is known as Dharmasamvardhini.

Puranic Significance

• The Syambulingeswarar Temple has a history that dates back 1112 years, making it an ancient and culturally rich site of worship.
• The temple is adorned with over 60 inscriptions on its stone walls, which provide insights into its historical and cultural importance.
• These inscriptions span different eras, including those of Chola kings like Kulothunga-I Chola and medieval Pandya kings Srivallaba, Parakrama, Kulasekara, Sundara, and Vikrama Pandya.
• Some inscriptions also mention Vijayanagara kings like Achutharaya and Nagama Nayaka, as well as later rulers like Vijaya Ragunatha Sethupathi of Ramnad and the Marudu Brothers of Sivaganga.
• The inscriptions offer various insights into the temple’s history, including the existence of dancers and a nattuvangar (choreographer) who organized performances during festivals. They also reveal a peace treaty between two ruling clans in the region, the practice of granting lands to the families of martyrs, and the installation of an idol of a predecessor king, Moothanayagan, by King Maravarman Sundara Pandya.

Deities and Architecture:

• In addition to Lord Shiva, the temple also houses deities of Lord Vinayaka, Lord Muruga, Chandikeshwarar, and the Navagraha.
• Adjacent to the Shiva temple, there is a separate shrine for the goddess (Amman), which features a pond in front.
• The temple also includes an idol of Karuppar placed between the Shiva and Amman temples.
• An unusual feature in the temple is the idol of Jyeshta Devi, along with Nandikeswarar and Agni, which reflects the Pandya period and symbolizes fertility.
• The architecture of the temple reflects elements from both the Pandya and Chola dynasties, adding to its historical and cultural significance.

Century/Period/Age

1112 Years old

Managed By

Hindu Religious & Charitable Endowments Department (HR&CE)

Nearest Bus Station

Sivapuripatti

Nearest Railway Station

Sivaganga

Nearest Airport

Madurai

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