THIRUMANGALAM SAMAVEDESWARA TEMPLE – 1

Thirumangalam is a small hamlet on the Northern bank of the river Cauvery, is about 3kms from Lalgudi and 17kms from Tiruchirappalli. The northern banks of river Cauvery is known for its rich number of Chola temples and also venerated by the Saiva Saints. As like, Thirumangalam, is also credited with Chola period temple dedicated to Lord Shiva in the name Samavedeswara. The inscriptions mention the deity as Parasuramesvara however at present known as Samavedeswara and the Goddess as Loka Nayagi.  The village is also associated with the legend of Anaya Nayanar, one among the sixty-three Nayanmars and said to be his birth and mukthi place.

Samavedeswara temple is located on the northern side of the village and it is a two prakara complex with a gopura in the east. The gopura is a three tier structure raised on a upapitha, the upapitha and the aditala are of stone construction whereas the super structure is newly constructed one. In the outer prakara, the pathway from the gopura to the entrance of the second prakara has a pillared colonnade, on the northern side is located the shrine of Goddess Lokanayaki. On the northeastern corner of the prakara the Vasantha mandapa is seen facing the south. On the northern side, adjoining the outer prakara wall the temple office, store rooms are seen facing west, as like, on the southern side a well is seen. The temple garden is located on the south western and western side of the prakara.

Adjoining the wall of the second prakara a mandapa extends towards east; it also adjoins the mandapa of the Goddess shrine in the north, the colonnade in the east and the Golumandapa in the south. The pillars in the manadapa are square-kattu-square, the long lower square is ornamented with scrolls, miniatures, human figures in anjali hasta, besides, the corners are decked with nagabandha. The upper squares are adorned with flower patterns. The potikas resting above the pillars are vettu-taranga. The mandapa extends like a colonnade towards east and in the colonnade a newly constructed Kodimarathu Vinayakar shrine is seen, followed by kodi maram, balipitha and Nandi orienting towards the sanctum. The kodimaram has a upapitha but at present covered with metal plates. The balipitha and the Nandi is placed on a pitha ornamented as padabandha adhishthana.

The Goddess shrine has a vimana, ardha mandapa and mukha mandapa raised on a upapitha. The vimana is dvitala nagara vimana with dravida sikhara; the aditala of the vimana is stone structure and the superstructure is cement construction. The adhishthana of the vimana is padabandha type with octagonal kumuda, above the adhishthana rests the vedica complex and the bhitti of the aditala raise over the vedica. The bhitti is sectioned by four plain brahmakantha pilasters on each side and the pilasters have the head components of kalasa, tadi, kumbha, pali, phalaka and virakantha. It is quite interesting to see the virakantha directly bear the prastara of the vimana since the potikas are absent. The roof of the aditala extend on sides as overhanging kapota, the kudu arches in the kapota remain plain. Above the roof is seen the bhumidesa. The aditala of the vimana is crowned with hara; the hara elements possess a tala and crowned with sikhara and are adorned with stucco figures of deities. The bhadrasalas are adorned with prime goddesses Maheswari, Brahmi, Vaishnavi, Kaumari. The harantara is also adorned with stucco figures of deities. The aditala is adorned with koshthas on three sides.

The ardha mandapa has an adhishthana, bhitti canton by a pilaster and prastara, all carry the same feature of the vimana. As like, the mukha mandapa also has an adhishthana, bhitti and prastara. The adhishthana has the same features of the vimana and the bhitti is canton by four plain brahmakantha pilasters at equal intervals. The potikas resting above the pilasters are plain angular and bear the prastara. The kapota is adorned with kudus but are plain. The roof of the mandapa is finished with cement plastering.

On the southern side the entrance of the mukha mandapa is seen and guarded by the dvarapalikas. Inside the mukha mandapa two rows two pillars are seen, segmented as three squares and kattu in between, in addition the squares are ornamented with medallions. The potikas are vettu-taranga and bear the prastara of the mandapa. The roof of the mandapa is covered with stone slabs. Inside, the ardhamandapa is a small chamber and pillars are absent. The sanctum is a cubical chamber, Goddess Lokanayaki is housed in the sanctum. The Goddess is standing in sama on a padma pitha, the back hands are in kat̩aka and carry flowers whereas the front right hand is in abhaya and the front left hand is in varada. In karanta makuta and silk attire, the Goddess is decked with all usual ornaments.

The inner prakara is encompassed by compound wall, adjoining the wall thiruchurru malika is extending on the southern, western, northwestern corner, northeastern corner and eastern side of the prakara whereas it is absent on the northern and the southeastern side of the prakara. The thiruchurru has a upapitha, single row of pillars and prastara. Shrines of Parasurameswara, Ganesa, Subramania with consorts, Gajalakshmi, Anaya Nayanar Moksha Linga, Nalvar and Anaya Nayanar shrine, Anaya Nayanar Moksha Amman are seen on the western and north western side of the thiruchurru. On the north eastern side of the thiruchurru two chambers are seen were the bronze sculptures of Goddess Kali, Nataraja, Four Great Saints, Aanaaya Nayanar are kept. On the eastern side of the thiruchurru the Navagriha, Bairava, Kala Bairava, Surya, Sanisvara are seen. The main shrine lying in the center of the inner prakara has a vimana, mukha mandapa, maha mandapa facing east. The shrine of Chandeswara is seen on the northern side of the prakara.

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