I have already blogged about some of the 'Temples in and around Karaikudi', and 'Soumya Narayana temple', in Sivaganga district of Tamilnadu. This is yet another temple I visited recently which is just 6 kms from the Pillyarpatti koil.( click the first link )
The deity of Nemam temple is Siva, known as Jayamkondeswarar and His consort is Soundaryanayaki. Just outside the main shrine, we find a disfigured idol of the same Goddess which is supposed to be the original idol. Usually disfigured , damaged idols are not worshipped in any temples but here it is worshipped as per the wishes of the Goddess. The temple is a treasure trove of art work and has richly ornamental pillars and life size statutes from mythology. There are shrines for Vinayagar and Muruga on either side of the main shrine.
The temple has a beautiful pond with lot of lillies . Water tanks in front of the temple is a common sight in most of the Karaikudi temples. There is also a shrine for Vinayaka near the tank. The ceiling of the temple has a Rasi chakra representing all the Zodiac signs and also has paintings related to Siva Puranam. This temple is situated in serene and calm village and the trees around the temple is a safe haven for parrots. Bees also have made the ceiling their homes. Could find 2 beehives at the entrance itself.
How to reach Karaikudi
Can be reached from Madurai and Trichy which are at 70 Kms and 82 Kms respectively. Both the cities have airports and railway stations. Karaikudi also has a railway station.
Buses ply from all the towns in Tamil Nadu to Karaikudi and all the above temples are on regular bus routes and are easily reachable.
Karaikudi town has good number of hotels for boarding as well as lodging.
Check pictures here
https://photos.google.com/album/AF1QipM0_Fba7ObYcsssxH3JyfiRgHWatctuT9Blw34W
Check pictures here
https://photos.google.com/album/AF1QipM0_Fba7ObYcsssxH3JyfiRgHWatctuT9Blw34W
Looks like the best of your lot that I have seen.
ReplyDeleteThanks Mridula. Waiting for your posts:)
ReplyDeleteFascinating to read of an idol that is worshipped despite being disfigured. The pictures on the ceiling are beautiful, so intricate and bright.
ReplyDeleteThanks PW,
ReplyDeleteThe priest narrated something related to that.Years ago, when it got disfigured the idol was about to be discarded, the Goddess appeared and asked the priest whether they will throw out their children if they are disabled, that made them to keep the idol for worship.
Well described and nice shots.
ReplyDeletewww.rajniranjandas.blogspot.com
Informative with great pictures
ReplyDeleteThanks
wowo, look at the colors and all that work done .. beautiful
ReplyDeleteBikram's
A very colorful Siva temple:)
ReplyDeletei ve seen this temple...there was not a soul around when i went there one hot afternoon!
ReplyDeleteKP
ReplyDeletethanks a lot
Niranjan, thanks for the visit.
ReplyDeleteBikram ,
ReplyDeletethanks friend..
Rahul Bhatia,
ReplyDeletethanks for the visit and the comment
ashok,
ReplyDeleteWhen we visited also no one was around except the priest.
Been a while, I visited blog posts..Glad I could do it today.. Superb post Chitra..!
ReplyDeleteRoopa Pavan
ReplyDeleteThanks a lot for the visit.
Just came here from your post:)Sridharan. Yes, it is quite sometime..
ReplyDeleteI love this temple and it's art works. I also love what the goddess said to the priest. How wonderful he listened. Beautiful post. Thank you for sharing.
ReplyDeleteFrances, thank you so much.
ReplyDeletebrilliant job yar...
ReplyDeleteRameshji
ReplyDeletethanks
beautiful and rashi chakra
ReplyDeletenice post
Loved the Rashi chakra chitra. Thankyou for giving us a glimpse.
ReplyDeleteStopping by to say a big hello.
ReplyDeleteShri, thank you Have you seen this temple?
ReplyDeletePW,
ReplyDeletemissed you comment .V.V.happy about your visit.
The post has enriched me.
ReplyDeleteThank you. I love your post. Just stopped by from BPOTW and glad I did. Maybe you cant visit my post on picking blueberries.
ReplyDeleteThanks you Charlotte...Shall be there. I would like to know what you blog about. thanks.
ReplyDeletePNS thanks a lot.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful stone art , i thank the priest who explained the different frequencies and its significance on each stone pillars.
ReplyDelete