Soundareswarar Temple

The temple stands majestically with a Theertham tank in the eastern direction. One can see Vinayagar and Nandhi mandapam at the entrance. In this temple, there is no Kodimaram. An Ardhachandra Vimanam with 2 kalasams decks this shrine and a 78 - feet high Rajagopuram adorns this temple. The presiding deity Lord Soundareswarar is enshrined here as a Swyambulingam facing east hence he is known as Swayamprakasa Easwarar. In the prakaram, one can see Lord Subramaniyar, Sri Gajalakshmi, Thirumoolar Chandikeswarar, Sri Bhairavar, Chandran, Suryan, Navagrahas, Sri Durgai, Lingothbavar and Sri Vinayagar. It is considered to be the 33rd in the series of the Tevara Stalams located in Chola Nadu north of the river Kaveri. A Naarai (stork), Surya and others are believed to have worshipped here. Pollaappillaiyaar (formerly Pollaappillaiyaar - one untouched by a chisel) is said to have aided the monarch and the devotee in recovering the Tirumurais hidden in a vault in the Chidambaram Temple. To Nambiyaandaar Nambi goes the credit of compiling and classifying this colossal collection of Tamil Tirumurais. He compiled the works of the 3 saints into the first seven Tirumurais. Manikkavacakar's Tiruvasakam & Tirukkovaiyar into the 8th. He included Tiruvisaippaa and Tiruppallaandu in the 9th & Tirumoolar's Tirumantiram in the 10th. Tirumukhappaasurm and other works were included in the 11th Tirumurai. With the aid of a descendant of the musical Nilakanta Yaazhpaanar, he assigned and fitted Panns to the Tevaram Hymns, (after worshipping Shiva at Erukkattampuliyur). Nambi is also credited with several other literary and devotional works.