Manakkarai Koonadarswamy Shiva Temple, Thiruvarur

Address

Manakkarai Koonadarswamy Shiva Temple, Thiruvarur

Manakkarai village, Koothanallur circle,  

Thiruvarur District,

Tamil Nadu 610206

Moolavar

Koonadarswami

Introduction

1. Location:
   • Situated in Manakkarai Village, Koothanallur Circle, Thiruvarur District, Tamil Nadu.
   • The temple is located on the upper bank of a large pond in the center of the village.
2. Puranic Significance:
   • The temple dates back 800 years, with an inscription from the 3rd Rajarajacholan period (1223 AD) found on the north side of the Arthamandapam.
   • The inscription mentions that land was purchased from Thalikulamudayan for 1500 cash as Thirugamathu land.
   • The town was originally called Kuruppanangudi and is now known as Manakkarai.
   • This temple was once the head temple of the Shivanandar, Koonandar, and Thenandar temples. The Shivanandar Temple is nearby, but there is no information about the Thenandar Temple.
3. Temple Structure:
   • The temple is a large complex spread over two acres with a three-tiered Rajagopuram facing east.
   • The sanctuary is made of beautiful Chola black stone with the altar also made of black stone, topped with a brick staircase.
   • Panchakosthas: The sanctum has images of Dakshinamurthy to the south, Vinayaka near the female deity, Lakshmi Narayan to the west, and Durga to the north.
   • Lord Koonadarswami (the presiding deity) is enshrined in the sanctum, facing east. The deity’s name “Koon” is derived from the shape of the altar, which is square and slightly round.
   • A cone-shaped mandapam in Nayak style is located in front of the corridor connected to the Lord’s shrine. There is a Nataraja shrine to the south.
4. Special Features:
   • The temple has bifurcated porches on both sides of the cone-shaped Mughamandapam.
   • A separate Nandi Mandapam is located in front of the sanctum.
   • The temple also has a separate shrine for Somakula Nayaki to the south.
   • Vinayagar and Subramaniya shrines are located in the western part of the temple complex.
   • A well is located in the north-east, near which is a Navagraha Mandapam, but the Navagrahas are not found in the temple.
5. Temple Age:
   • The temple is believed to be over 800 years old.
6. Festivals and Worship:
   • Regular worship and festivals are conducted, with a focus on the Lord Koonadarswami shrine.

Century/Period

500- 1000 Years old

Nearest Bus Station

Manakkarai

Nearest Railway Station

Thiruvarur

Nearest Airport

Trichy

Location on Map

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