Vadakarai Sokkanathar Shiva Temple, Thiruvarur

Address

Vadakarai Sokkanathar Shiva Temple, Thiruvarur

Vadakarai, Thiruvarur taluk,

Thiruvarur District,

Tamil Nadu

Moolavar

Sokkanathar

Amman

Meenakshi Amman

Introduction

Vadakarai Sokkanathar Temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva, located in the Vadakarai, Thiruvarur circle, Thiruvarur district, Tamil Nadu. This temple is located near the south bank of the Pandavai River. The Shiva temple is situated towards the east and it is two acres in size. The temple is in dilapidated state. In the middle of the two sanctuaries, a platform is built around a big bow tree, in which four Nagas, two lingams; two Nandis, one Shani Bhagavan and one Bairavi have been kept unconsecrated. On the south side, a Dakshnamurthy idol with early carvings stands under a tree. Adjacent to the Vinayagar shrine is a shrine to the Lingamurti called Viswanath. North-East facing Ambigai is the Sanctum. The temple has been in ruins for years, with plants growing everywhere without proper maintenance, vines growing in the cracks and crevices of the floor, and some of the vaults are without caskets.

Puranic Significance

The temple is said to be more than 1500 years old. Lord – Sokkanatha Lord – Meenakshi Amman Lord and Lord both are facing east. As the temple is on the left side of Lord Ambigai, it is the post-marriage posture, thus benefiting those worshiping as a couple. The Lord is in the form of a large lingam, the sanctum sanctorum has four parts namely Arthamandapam, Mughamantapam and Mukamantapam. Nandi is in the hall. There is a Nandi altar in the Thani Mandapam outside the Mumandapam. The temple is beautifully designed entirely in brick, up to the Mugham Mandapam in the style of the Nayak period. There is a Nataraja shrine facing south in the Muhamandapam and directly opposite it is the South gate darshanamandapam. Only Tenmukan Durga is among Karurai Kostams.

“With the kind permission of Sri Kadambur K. Vijayan, these are extracted from his posts”.