Chokkalingapuram Meenakshi Chokkanathar Temple, Aruppukottai

Address

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

Diety

Chokkanathar Amman: Meenakshi

Introduction

The Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple at Chokkalingapuram near Aruppukottai in Virudhunagar district is located on a model similar to the Meenakshi Temple in Madurai. The source of this temple is Chokkanathar. The goddess is Meenakshi. The Rajagopuram has 5 levels, with 5 urns. To the right of the Shiva Sannidhi is the Somaskandar Sannidhi and then the Meenakshi Sannidhi. Like the Madurai temple, it is also known as the wedding venue as Meenakshi blesses Lord Shiva on the right side.

Puranic Significance

King Maravarma Sundarapandiya was talking to his queen. Then Rajaguru Paranjothi Sage came to see the king as a matter of urgency. The king did not come out after waiting for a long time. He told the guard to inform the king of the information he was waiting for and went to the Manalur Ashram where he was staying. Shortly afterwards, the king was informed that the prince was waiting. The grieving king went to the ashram and worshiped the prince and begged him to forgive his mistake. The Rajaguru forgave the emperor and ordered him to build a temple to Lord Shiva at Aruppukottai, also known as Sengatti Rukai Idattuvali, to remove the evil that had insulted the Guru and to remove the Guru’s curse The temple was built by Maravarma Sundarapandiyamannan on this occasion. The source here is Sokkanathar who keeps the devotees at bay.

Beliefs

Datsinamoorthy and Saraswati Devi are anointed here to excel in education. As it is a temple located in Somaskanda, it is an ideal place to get rid of marriage bans and have children. It is beneficial to worship non-Rudu women during a particular season.

Special Features

Sunlight will spread over the source from March 20 to 30. Before worshiping Lord Shiva here, it is customary to worship Ganesha on the steps near the temple and break the scattering. Staircase Ganesha gives darshan with beard.

Festivals

Like the Meenakshi Amman Temple in Madurai, all the festivities take place in a special way. On the Tamil New Year, anointing service will be held for the four priests and the Nayans and new clothes will be made. Tiruvilakku Puja will be held on the last Friday of the Tamil month.