Shiva Temples of Tamilnadu

Temple Layout

Maada Koil Structure

The presiding deity of this temple is revered as Devapureeswarar, as the Devas worshipped Him here and received His divine grace. He is also known as Devagurunathar, since Guru Bhagavan is believed to have worshipped Him at this sacred place and received His blessings. This temple is one of the Maada Koils built by King Kochengat Chola. On entering through the three-tiered, east-facing Rajagopuram, the Deva Theertham can be seen on the southern side. Straight ahead are the flagstaff, Bali Peetam and Nandi.

The lower-level inner prakaram houses sannidhis for the 63 Nayanmars, Valampuri Vinayaka, Subramaniya, the Linga worshipped by Ahalya, Mahalakshmi and several other deities. The Nataraja Sabha is housed in a separate and beautifully designed sannidhi. At the foot of the Kattumalai, the sannidhis of Indra, Muruga and Vinayaka are situated close to one another. Climbing up the Kattumalai, devotees can see the Linga worshipped by Gautama Maharishi, as well as the sannidhis of Somaskandar and the Navagrahas.

The presiding deities, Devapureeswarar and Goddess Mathurabhashini, bless devotees from their east-facing sanctums. The Sthala Vinayaka is known as Valampuri Vinayaka. A distinctive feature of this temple is that the rear wall of the sanctum depicts Mahavishnu instead of the usual Lingodbhavar.

Sthala Vriksham

The sacred tree of this temple is a remarkable banana tree that grows on solid rock. It belongs to a variety known as Vel Vazhai. According to tradition, when the Devas came here to worship the Deity, the Vel Vazhai from Devaloka too is believed to have accompanied them and subsequently became the sacred tree of this temple, growing close to the sanctum of the presiding deity. Remarkably, this banana tree is not watered even today. Its growth on the granite Kattumalai is regarded as a manifestation of its divine nature. Since it grows on rock, the tree is also known as Kal Vazhai, meaning the “stone banana tree.”