The Vimana of Suyambunathaswami shrine is ashtanga pure vesara vimana. Aditala of the vimana is stone edifice whereas superstructure is fully refurbished, nevertheless, carry the soul of the original framework. Adhishthana, bhitti, prastara forming the aditala; hara of the aditala, second tala, griva and sikhara forms the superstructure of the vimana. The diameter of the outer circumference of the vimana aditala is 19’. The adhishthana is padabandha type with octagonal kumuda and the bhitti that rise above the vedika complex is cantoned by brahmakantha pilasters. Totally twenty pilasters canton the bhitti, distributed at equal intervals. The cardinal directions viz., west, north, south are adorned with koshtha panjaras while the eastern cardinal direction forms the doorway of the sanctum. The distribution of pilasters between the koshthas constitutes five on each division. The brahmakantha pilasters possess capital components and vettu-taranga potikas resting on it bear the prastara elements of uttira, vajana, valabhi and kapota. The outer face of the potikas are ornamented with flower medallion. Shallow kudus are shown at frequent intervals in the kapota. The tala ended with bhumidesa.
The koshthas panjaras have a pair of brahmakantha split pilasters and crowned with plain sikhara. Dakshinamurthy, Lingodhbava and Brahma adorn the koshthas on the south, west and north respectively. The koshtha of Dakshinamurthy on the southern side is added with a small mandapa in the front.
The hara of the aditala is arpita hara, bhadrasalas-panjaras-vrittakutas form the hara elements; while the former occupies the cardinal directions, the latter the sub-cardinal directions, whereas the panjaras are in between them. The hara elements are interconnected by the harantara. It is quite interesting to see even the kutas of the hara are also vesara in type.
The hara elements possess all the six angas, alpa nasikas of hara elements are adorned with stucco figures of various deities. Siva with consorts, Vishnu with consorts, Brahma and Dakshinamurthy are adorning the nasika of the bhadrasalas on the east, west, north and south respectively. The nasikas of the vrittakutas and the panjaras are adorned with deities viz., Muruga, Ganesa, goddess, Siva and Vishnu in various forms, erotic figures and also other puranic themes.
For the second tala only the prastara elements are visible, in that valabhi is ornamented with maddalas at frequent intervals. On all the sides, a pair of bracket figures bear the roof of the second tala. Above the bhumidesa of the second tala the vedika complex is shown on which rests the griva of the sikhara. Besides, a pair of nandi is shown seated in the sub-cardinal directions. The griva is adorned with koshthas in the prime directions and nasikas in between. In addition, respective deities of prime directions are housed in the koshthas, griva wall is decked with dikpalas. The dome shaped sikhara is ornamented with geometrical patterns, chandramandalas and padma at the apex. A metal stupi is seen at the pinnacle.
In between the vimana and the mukha mandapa recession is shown, it has adhishthana, bhitti and prastara features similar to vimana aditala. In addition, decked with a panjara on both sides. Unlike the koshtha panjaras of vimana aditala, here the panjara also has adhishthana, denoting a full-fledged vimana. The adhishthana is kapotabandha type with rudra kumuda followed by vedika complex and above that rise a pair of brahmakantha split pilasters ornamented with head components, the panjara is crowned with a sala sikhara. The griva is decked with a nasika and the sala sikhara carries five stupis at the pinnacle.
As like, the rectangular mukha mandapa also possess the same features of the vimana aditala. The bhitti is cantoned by four brahmakantha pilasters on the north, south and east. In between the middle pair of pilasters koshtha is shown in the northern and southern side whereas on the eastern side the middle pair of pilasters flank the entrance of the mukha mandapa and the spaces in between the pilasters on either side is adorned with a koshtha. The pilasters of the mukha mandapa and the pilasters of the koshthas carry the same features as like the pilasters of the vimana aditala. Lord Ganesa and Goddess Durga adorn the koshthas in south and north respectively. The koshthas on the eastern side are empty, but in correspondence to the koshthas, Lord Subrahmanya with his consorts, and Lord Ganesa are placed in the north and south respectively on a platform in the floor of the maha mandapa. Next to the mukha mandapa is the maha mandapa, it has basement, wall and roof, the wall is cantoned by plain brahmakantha pilasters. Potikas are vettu-taranga type and bear the prastara and ended with bhumidesa. The shrine of Aadavallan is on the northern side of the maha mandapa.
Next to the maha mandapa is another pillared mandapa having a common outer wall with the maha mandapa and possess the same features of the maha mandapa. Doorways are seen both in the east as well as in the south. Besides, the shrine of Goddess Lokanayaki is on the northern side of the mandapa facing south. On the east, newly constructed niche in the center and Nandi placed at the corners are found on the roof of the mandapa. Yoga Narasimha worshiping the Linga adorn the niche.
The outer maha mandapa has four pillars, it is quite interesting to see the pillars are not monolithic instead the pillars are constructed out of stone blocks. The pillars are segmented as three squares and kattu in between. Vettu-taranga potikas rest above the pillars and bear the uttira. A thin vajana and valabhi follow the uttira. The roof of the mandapa is covered with stone slabs. The Goddess shrine is on the northern side, the mukha mandapa of the Goddess shrine adjoins the northern wall of the outer maha mandapa. Sculptures of Sri Surya, Sri Chandra, Sri Kalabairava, Sri Saniswara are seen on the eastern side of the mandapa. The legend of the temple Yoga Narasimha worshipping the Linga is shown as a miniature on the western wall of the mandapa. On the roof of the mandapa twin fish symbols are seen at three places.
The inner maha mandapa is supported by six pillars, unlike the outer mandapa, here the pillars are monolithic, segmented as three squares and kattu in between. Some of the potikas are vettu-taranga while some are madalai-nanudal. The potikas bear the prastara of the mandapa. On the southeast corner of the mandapa a small chamber is seen. Sri Dakshinamurthy, Sri Subrahmanya with his consorts and Sri Vinayaka are the deities seen in this mandapa. Nandi and balitala are seen in the floor of the mandapa oriented towards the sanctum.
Pillars are absent in the mukha mandapa. The mukha mandapa while adjoining with the sanctum reduces to 7” that creates the recession on the outer side. The diminution of size has both engineering and architectural significance. On engineering aspect the diminution is made to connect the wider rectangular structure with the cylindrical structure whereas architecturally it adds elegance by creating a recession. The curvature of the cylindrical sanctum extends on the floor of the recession. The cylindrical sanctum is 12’6” in diameter and the bhitti of the sanctum is plain, the prastara elements of uttira, vajana, valabhi are shown. The sanctum houses Lord Siva in the form of Linga and in the name of Suyambunathaswami. The vesara avudaiyar of the Linga carry the features of a padabandha adhishthana, the bana is rudra in type, a long gomukha extends towards north.
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