SUCHINDRAM TEMPLE-12

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 THANUMALAYAN

           SUCHINDRAM TEMPLE-12

    SRI.S.V.VARADARAJAN
   

      Near the Kodi Mandapam, Vinayaka is seated with the name 'Satchi Vinayaka'.He is supposed to be the witness for the punishments imposed on the culprits.The punishment is called 'Kaimukku'. It seems that in olden days a person charged with an offence was asked to dip his hand in the Ghee kept boiling in a big vessel as a punishment. This practice was stopped by Swathi Thirunal Maharaja who ruled over Trivancore in the 19 th century.Next we get across two Dwarapalaka(sentries ] named Aaatkondan and Uyyakondan and go into the shenbaga Raman Mandapam. This is also like Art Gallery.  We see scenes from the epics Ramayana, and Mahabharatha carved as beautiful figures on the pillars and also painted on the walls. It is really a feast to the eyes.From this Mandapam, we go to the sannadhi of Tanumalaya. this is called 'Vadakkedam'. The Ardha mandapam here is  bright with many many oil lamps and from and from here we have a darshan of 'Thanumalaya' in the form of a Linga in the sanctum sanctorum.The linga is covered with golden frame {Kavacham} fitted on it. In the temple on the left side, we see the temple of Lord Nataraja as a copper statue facing the south and this reminds us of the famous Thillai {Chidambaram] temple on the right side of Thanumalaya,we find the temple of Lord Vishnu. This is called 'Thekkedam'The statue of Thirumal 7 1/2 feat tall majestically resembles the famous perumal at Tirupathi {venkadam}. A silver frame is fitted on this figure. No abishekam is performed because the statue is made of sugar and mustard seed. Below this statue, we can see Sri Devi,Bhoo Devi and Vishnu in the form of Copper idols and flanked by the statues of Vedavyasr and Narayana on both sides.


To be continued