PENNESWARAR TEMPLE - PENNESWARARMAADAM - KRISHNAGIRI DISTRICT - TAMILNADU.
Penneswarar Siva temple in the town Penneswarar in Krishnagiri district Tamilnadu,about 3.5 KM's from the Salem Bangaluru highway is an exquisite temple built by Kulothunga Chola the 3rd around 1188 AD after winning a war and is more than 800 years old. The temple also has passed on to the later kingdoms, including,the Hoysala, Vijayanagara,Athiyamaan and so on. Infact the Rajagopuram was built by King Athiyamaan.
The Temple has a South entrance with a Rajagopuram, seven tiered, which leads to a huge compound, being the tallest Gopuram in Krishnagiri district of Tamil Nadu.
Inside the compound is the inner precinct through which one has to enter the Mukhamandapam perpendicular to the south entrance. On entrance you see a beautiful Vinayaka (Sankatahara) on a raised pedestal.
To the right of the Vinayaka statue facing east is the sanctum of Lord Shiva known as Penneswarar in the form of a small lingam with a chaturanga Avudayar(Pindika) post the Ardhamandapam. In the Mukhamandapam is the Pradosha Nandi facing the lord. During the month of (Margazhi) Dec-Jan the sunlight falls on the Shiva lingam coming out of square holes, one larger in the outer wall and a small hole of 6 inch square on the inner precinct hall.
Coming out of the Mukhamandapam, in the precinct is the Koshtha devathas, Nardana Ganapathy, Dakshinamurthy, Mahavishnu & Durga. In the inner precinct outer wall are lined with shrines of the Saptha Mathrikas and various Lingams.
Behind one of the Lingam's was a tall "Panaimaram" Palm tree, based upon which the lord is named as Penneswarar. He is also named after the Pennai River.
In the inner precinct at the back left side of the lord's Sanctum is a small sanctum for his consort Goddess Parvathi known as Vedanayagi or Vedavalli facing the east. On circumumbulation of this prakaram you come to the eastern inside gate, before which is the Adhikara Nandi, and the statue of King Kulothunga Chola the 3rd.
The temple is nicely co-cooned on the banks of River Pennai,with scenery all around of mountains and farm lands. Though the river is flowing like a stream now,with fresh sparkling water,it is perennial.
The temple is full of flora being maintained by an old lady named Manikkamma 9597097568.who has cared for the trees lovingly. She showed us the Nava Vilva tree with 9 Vilva leaves & the aromatic Maghizham flower.(Mimusops Elengi).
Mohan Gurukkal 9944992563
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