Athmanatha Swamy temple

Athmanatha Swamy temple is dedicated to lord Shiva located in Avudaiyarkoil town in Aranthangi taluk in Pudukottai district of Tamil Nadu.

A beautiful blend of faith and architecture.

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The temple covers an area of over 10 acres with 3 enclosures and faces south, constructed in a manner that the setting sun strikes the sanctum.(1)

Most Shiva temples are generally east facing, Avudaiyarkoil temple faces south. Here lord Shiva manifests himself as a guru, enlightening saint Manikkavasagar as lord Dakshinamurthy, hence the temple is south facing. It's mandatory to worship Manikkavasagar before lord Shiva.(2)

There is no shivalingam but only a pedestal (Avudayar) located in the sanctum. Presiding deity is known as Athmanatha Swamy. Athmanathar does not have a form here, which reflects the status of soul.(3)

There are three diyas lit in the sanctum sanctorum behind Atmanatha swamy in white, red and green as the three eyes of lord Shiva representing Sun(white), Agni (red) and Moon(green). As the lord is formless, these three lamps are lit.(4)

Mother goddess is called Yogambal. She is also formless here. Mother shrine is situated to the right side of the sanctum. She is represented by yoga peetham on which the foot prints of the goddess have been carved out. Pujas are offered only to the feet of Ambika.(5)

Contrary to absence of pujas in temples during eclipses, Avudaiyarkoil temple conducts its routine 6 time puja during eclipses too. The underlying philosophy is that eclipses cannot stop pujas for Shiva who has no aadi or antth.(6)

The temple was built by saint Manikkavasagar in 9th ce. Further additions took place over time by Pandya and Nayak kings amidst others. There is a 4 pillared mandapam behind the sanctum where Atmanathar is seen seated giving deeksha to saint Manikkavasagar.(7)

Inscriptions found in this temple describe it as a Chathurvethi Mangalam denoting it was home to scholars, who were vedic masters.(8)

There are lord Ganesha shrines in the temple. There is no shrine for Navagrahas rather they are depicted in pillars. A Shiva form in the temple is known as Kuthirai Swamy or horse god.(9)

Saint Manikkavasagar

Lord Kartikeya

Lord Veerbhadra