Sri Seshapureeswarar Temple

Address

Sri Seshapureeswarar Temple, Manakka lAyyampettai Post Thiruvarur District – 610104

Diety

Seshapureeswarar Amman: Andappuranayaki

Introduction

Seshapureswarar temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva located at Raapatteeswaram village in Thiruvarur district in Tamil Nadu. It is maintained by NattukkottaiNagarathar Community. This devaravaiputhalam is little known but has many special features and is located at raapatteeswaram near Manakkal Ayyampet close to the main road.

Puranic Significance

The west facing Temple has no Gopuram in the front. The shrine, at a slightly elevated place has Lakshmi and Saraswathi on both sides of the entrance. The only outer Prakaram is full of grass which has to be cut to clear the way for devotees who wish to go round the temple.Mahamandapam unusually houses many Murthis who normally occupy the Goshtam/separate shrines in the outer Prakaram. A big idol of Ganapathi, very well carved one is seen here. A beautiful sculpture of Subramanya seated on Peacock is seen with his consorts. The Murthi, carved in a single stone,with six hands should delight the devotees. The huge idol of Bhairava is also a must watch. The crisply carved Murthi. Kapala mala and Thrisulam is an outstanding one. Ashtami (eighth day ofter Full moon day)puja is conducted for Bhairava Nandhi, The Sacred Bull is normally seen in front of The Sanctum in all Shiva Temples, facing The Lord. There are places like Thiruppungur and Patteeswaram where the Bull can be seen few feet away from the straight line where it used to be, yet, facing The Shiva There are also some places like ThirumullaiVoil,near Chennai, Somangalam, near Kunrathur and ThiruVaigavur near Swamimalai where The Nandhi and The Lord face the same direction. We come across a rare sight where the Nandhi, seated right in front of the main deity, seen turning His head by 90 degrees and looking at the big and marvellous Dakshinamurthi, nearby. MoolaMurthi is called Seshapureeswarar as the figure of a serpant Ambikai, facing south is known as AndhapuraNayaki. Childless couples come here and take bath in the Temple Tank and worship the Lord and The Goddess to be blessed. Although a separate “Padhigam” is not available for this place, it has figured in Saint Appar’sThevaram Hymn, and called as “VaipuSthalam” The Nandhi in front of Seshapureeswarar is unique as it has turned its head by right angles and the place where it looks houses a superb Dakshinamurthi. It is also unique that the Murthi,normally found in the Deva Koshta in the south prakaram is seen here in the Mahamandapam. This masterpiece has a smile which is unparalleled. His curling locks and the finely carved arnaments, Yagyopaveedham on His chest are simply absorbing. Pujas are conducted once in a day for this rarely visited Temple which is unique in many aspects. We come out of the Temple with Prayers on our lips for the betterment of the shrine. It is desirable if people cultivate the habit of visiting such rare temples and render all possible help to preserve the glory and at the same time extend a helping hand to the priest whose income is negligible. Negligence on the part of people and Goverment can only ruin the priceless structures which have withstood for many centuries because of good patronage. Devotees from nearby towns should make it a point to visit atleast one such temple in a month, the act, no doubt, will add value to their devotion. # “These are extracted from Sri Sekar Venkataraman posts”