Sivapuripatti Syambulingeswarar Temple, Sivaganga

Address

Sivapuripatti Syambulingeswarar Temple, Sivapuripatti village, Sivaganga district, Tamilnadu 630502

Diety

Syambulingeswarar Amman: Dharmasamvardhini

Introduction

The Syambulingeswarar Temple in Sivapuripatti, Sivaganga District, Tamil Nadu, is a significant temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. It is located approximately 60 km away from the city of Madurai and the nearest town is Singampunari.

Deities:

The presiding deity of the temple is Lord Syambulingeshwarar (Shiva).
The goddess in the temple is known as Dharmasamvardhini.

Puranic Significance

The Syambulingeswarar Temple has a history that dates back 1112 years, making it an ancient and culturally rich site of worship.
The temple is adorned with over 60 inscriptions on its stone walls, which provide insights into its historical and cultural importance.
These inscriptions span different eras, including those of Chola kings like Kulothunga-I Chola and medieval Pandya kings Srivallaba, Parakrama, Kulasekara, Sundara, and Vikrama Pandya.
Some inscriptions also mention Vijayanagara kings like Achutharaya and Nagama Nayaka, as well as later rulers like Vijaya Ragunatha Sethupathi of Ramnad and the Marudu Brothers of Sivaganga.
The inscriptions offer various insights into the temple’s history, including the existence of dancers and a nattuvangar (choreographer) who organized performances during festivals. They also reveal a peace treaty between two ruling clans in the region, the practice of granting lands to the families of martyrs, and the installation of an idol of a predecessor king, Moothanayagan, by King Maravarman Sundara Pandya.

Deities and Architecture:

In addition to Lord Shiva, the temple also houses deities of Lord Vinayaka, Lord Muruga, Chandikeshwarar, and the Navagraha.
Adjacent to the Shiva temple, there is a separate shrine for the goddess (Amman), which features a pond in front.
The temple also includes an idol of Karuppar placed between the Shiva and Amman temples.
An unusual feature in the temple is the idol of Jyeshta Devi, along with Nandikeswarar and Agni, which reflects the Pandya period and symbolizes fertility.
The architecture of the temple reflects elements from both the Pandya and Chola dynasties, adding to its historical and cultural significance.