Sri Muktheeswarar Temple, Athur

 

 

 

Moolavar: Sri Muktheeswarar
Amman: Sri Aram Valartha Naayagi
Place: Athur Village, Kanchipuram

A beautiful temple belonging to the Chola period on the banks of Palar also called Ksheera Nadhi which serves as the Theertham for this temple.  This wonderful temple has the Shiva Lingam facing east and the unique feature of this Lingam is, a thin ray of line separates the top portion (Baanam) of Lingam into two equal halves vertically. It is said that such Lingam is very rare to see and it represents the Ardhanaareeswarar (Shiva & Shakthi in equal halves) form of Lord Shiva.

The inscriptions also reveal that funds were generated from this temple and donated to build one of the Gopurams of Chidambaram Sri Natarajar Temple. It thus shows the prosperity of this temple. 

This temple has beautiful praakaarams. The outer praakaram has Sri Vinayagar, Sri Dhakshinamurthy, Sri Brahma and Sri Durgai around the sanctum. Just near Sri Dhakshinamurthy shrine, a small underway is seen, which is kept closed using an asbestos sheet. There is a small room under the ground level which is said to be the hiding place during the times of war.

Sri Vinayagar has a separate shrine in the temple’s outer praakaaram and is facing east. There are many stone inscriptions found all along the walls of the temple. According to the inscriptions this Vinayagar was installed by a local villager in this temple, during Chozha reign.

Sri Valli Devasena Samedha Sri Shanmugar has a separate shrine on the praakaaram. The idol of Sri Shanmugar is yet to get Ashtabandhanam done. The idol is wonderfully sculpted with Lord Shanmugar with 6 faces, 12 arms holding weapons and seated majestically on an aesthetic peacock which is holding the snake in its beak. All the details of this idol along with its base is made of single stone and is just kept in the shrine without fixing it (Ashtabandhanam) to the floor. The idol is made in such a way that it aptly balances itself firmly on the ground.

There is a stone marking on one of the walls of the temple, mentioning that the Kumbhabhishekam (Consecration) was held last on 30.08.1917.

On the North West side of the praakaaram Sri Jyeshta Devi is seen facing east. Sri Jyeshta is elder to Sri Lakshmi as she evolved out prior to Sri Lakshmi during the churning of the mighty ocean, Ksheera Saagaram (Paarkadal). It is said that Sri Jyeshta Devi was one of the main deities for the then Chozha rulers.

There are 2 Sthala Virukshams for this temple, Vilvam and Maa Maram (Mango tree). This mango tree has a very unique quality. This tree branches into two from the base and the fruits formed from each half of the tree has different tastes. 

It is said, as Lord Shiva here is in the form of Ardhanaareeswarar the tree too naturally gives fruits with 2 different tastes, symbolising the dual form of Lord Shiva.

This temple has been in a dilapidated condition and the local youth have formed a trust called ‘Srimath Muktheeswarar Nithya Poojai Arakkattalai’ to help bring back the originality of the temple and to conduct Poojas everyday.

The trust is raising funds and contributing to the welfare of the temple. Those willing to visit or help the temple shall contact Sri Ananthasayanan (+91 98422 89081) or Sri Rishikesh (+91 97103 46703), 'Athur Srimath Muktheeswarar Nithya Poojai Arakkattalai', Reddy Street, Aathur Village and Post, Kanchipuram District – 603 101.

Location:
Sri Muktheeswarar Temple, Athur