Thirumalukanthan Kottai Shiva Temple, Ramanathapuram

Address

Thirumalukanthan Kottai Shiva temple, Tirumalugandankottai, Sayalkudi Ramanathapuram, Tamil Nadu 623115

Diety

Thirumalukanthan (Shiva) Amman: Parvati

Introduction

Thirumalukanthan Kottai temple near Sayalkudi in Ramanathapuram district, India. The early Pandya-era structure is the only stone temple in Ramanathapuram. This shiva temple is built with granite stone. The temple’s intricate inscriptions and shape are examples Pandya period. This temple under the control of Ramanathapuram Archaeological Research Foundation. The structure houses the shrines of Lord Shiva and goddess Amman separately. But much of the frescoes have been damaged over the years. And the handiwork of artisans is all but disappearing.

Puranic Significance

Its architecture is similar to the better-known early Pandya period temples like the Kazhukumalai Vettuvankoil in Tuticorin and the Thirupathur Sivan temple. All these temples have square towers, known as ‘Nagara Vimana and the Thirupathur temple has three tiers, while the RamanaThapuram. In the first tier of the tower of this temple there are sculptures of a chariot and a bullock cart. A sculpture of Kannappa Nayanar, a hunt who had donated his .. eyes to Lord Shiva adorns the wall of this temple. The sculpture shows him with his foot placed on top of a Shiva Linga and another has Uma Maheswarar sitting on top of Nandi, and many other intricate form