Ayyapatti Thirukkottiswarar Shiva Temple, Madurai

Address

Ayyapatti Thirukkottiswarar Shiva Temple, Ayyapatti (Dargakudi), Madurai District – 625101.

Diety

Thirukkottiswarar

Introduction

Tarkudi is located at a distance of 414 km from Chennai on the road from Madurai to Trichy. A later Pandya period Shiva temple was built in the pool of this town. The inscriptions on the walls of the temple date back to AD. It can be dated to the 13th century. The temple is mentioned in the inscription as Lord Thirukkottiswarar and ” Ur Thakkaykudi ”. A small sanctum sanctorum, the present-day temple with the Arthamandapath was originally an elaborate temple with a perimeter wall. Inscriptions of the kings Parakrama Pandian, Kulasekarapandian and Veerapandian are found on the walls. Birthstones indicate land donations for the temple. The shrines and the Nandi Mandapam were initially built for the other deities Ganesha, Murugan, Byravar and Amman. At present they are greatly distorted.