Tarasuram Audayanathar Shiva Temple, Thanjavur

Address

Tarasuram Audayanathar Shiva Temple Vaninagar, Darasuram, Kumbakonam Circle, Thanjavur District – 612 702

Diety

Audayanathar Amman: Meenakshi

Introduction

This temple is a temple where Lord Shiva and Kamatchi are together but it is known as Kamatchiamman Temple. Kumbakonam is located on Kammalar Street in Darasuram on Thanjavur Road. But this temple is also known as the Kamatchi Amman Temple. Kamatchi Amman is located in the north-facing sanctum on Kammalar Street in the north. Seen from the outside there are no signs that it is a Shiva temple. The altar in front of the Kamatsiyamman sanctuary, Nandi could be seen. There are openings on both sides of the sanctuary gate. There are no other deities around the sanctum sanctorum. The temple ranks third in the seven-day festival in seven towns. To the left of the Kamatchi Amman Sanctuary facing east is a solitary temple of Lord Shiva on the same premises. On either side of the gate is Lord Ganesha with Lord Murugan. In the sanctum sanctorum, one can see a large square lingam. The Lord is also called Atmanathaswamy. The Meenakshi Amman Shrine faces east with the Lord on the left. The altar is on the opposite side of the Amman Sanctuary as it is in the Moolavar Sanctuary. According to Valam, in the sanctum sanctorum are Brahma, Durga, the south-facing linkot. In Tiruchirappalli there is a shrine of Lord Murugan with Ganesha and Goddess Valli. In the front hall of the sanctum sanctorum is the Navagraha Sanctum. The Lord is seldom here in the south facing Dakshanalingam. In the nearby northeast corner are statues of Bhairav, Ganesha and Naga. Built over 400 years ago during the Nayakar period, the temple is in a very dilapidated condition. Renovations began four years ago and work has stalled. # “With the kind permission of Sri Kadambur K. Vijayan, these are extracted from his posts”.