The Visit to Sri Kasi Viswanathar Temple at Aranthangi was a part of Shiva, Vishnu Temples of Pudukkottai and Sivagangai Districts Visit on 23rd & 24th September 2023. This temple was once inside the Aranthangi Fort, built by the Aranthangi Thondaimans who ruled this area under Pandyas and Vijayanagaras.
Moolavar : Sri Kasi Viswanathar
Consort : Sri Visalakshi
Some of the salient features of this Temple are...
The temple is facing east with a 3 tier Rajagopuram. A Vinayagar is in front of the Temple. Dwajasthambam, balipeedam and Rishabam are after the Rajagopuram. Stucco image of Shiva and Parvati as Rishabaroodar is at the entrance of ardha mandapam. Dwarapalakas are at the entrance of sanctum sanctorum. Moolavar is very small on a round avudayar. In koshtam Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Lingothbavar, Brahma and Durgai.
Nalvar, Ambal and Utsavars are in the ardha mandapam. Ambal is in standing posture with abhaya varada hastam. In praharam, Vinayagar, Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniar, Chandikeswarar, Bairavar, Navagrahas, Chandran and Suriyan.
ARCHITECTURE
The architecture seems to be similar to the Pallava period temples. The temple consists of sanctum sanctorum, antarala, ardha mandapam and open mukha mandapam. The sanctum sanctorum is on a upanam, kapota bandha adhistanam with vrutha kumudam. Sthamba panjaras are in between sala and karnapathis. The Bhitti starts above kapotam. The pilasters are with square base & Naga bandham, virutha body, malai thongal, kalasam, kudam, lotus petals mandi, palakai, veera kandam and poo mottu pothyal. The Prastaram consists of lotus petals valapi, kapotam with plain nasi kudus & keerthi mukhas. Yazhi vari is above the kapotam ie in bhoomi desam. Makara thundam is on the corners of yazhi vari. No images found in the 1st tala kostas and images are in Greeva kostas. The Sigaram is of Nagara Style.
The temple was reconstructed in 20th Century. The original temple was built completely with stone from adhistanam to sigaram.
HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS
Based on the inscription and construction the temple may belongs to 12th to 13th century, Pandya Period and the same was reconstructed without much modifications by Nattukkottai Nagarathar.
LEGENDS
POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS
Apart from regular poojas special poojas are conducted on Pradosham, Maha Shivaratri, Vinayagar Chaturthi, Panguni Uthiram, Thaipoosam, Amavasya days, etc,.
TEMPLE TIMINGS
The temple will be kept opened between 07.00 hrs to 11.00 hrs and 17.00 hrs to 20.00 hrs.
CONTACT DETAILS
HOW TO REACH
This temple is on the Kottai 2nd Street ( 500 meters from Aranthangi Check post bus stop ), about 1.4 KM from Aranthangi Bus Stand, 14 KM from Avudaiyarkoil, 31 KM from Karaikudi and 416 KM from Chennai.
Nearest Railway station is Aranthangi.
LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE : CLICK HERE
--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---
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