Swamy Temple (sivan sannathi)
On each side of the entrance to the swamy temple (Lord Sundareswarar's Temple)is a statue of a Dwarabalaga (Guard engraved out of a single.12 feet high installed on base of 4 feet.)
On the pillars near these Dwarabalagas,we see Lord Siva with five heads seated beside His consort and Goddess Meenakshi with five heads.
There are also the statues of the saints,Appar,Sundarar,Sambandar and Manickavasagar.
Next is the three storeyed tower of the Swamy sannathi.It is 41 feet high with a base of 31 feet long and 18 feet broad.There are 36 sculptures in this tower.This tower was built in 1168 by Kulasekara Pandyan.
Non -Hindus are not allowed to go beyond this entrance.
Inside the gate way of this tower are Adhikara Nandhi (Bull of Power)and Chamundi.
Beyond this is a six-footed dais where the book of Saint Paranjothi on the Lord's feats (Thiruvilayadal) is said to have been inaugurated.
The Copper guard's on this dais were presented by Thirumalai Naick.On the pillars facing this dais ,Saint Pathanjali and Vyagrapadhar are featured as standing with folded palms.
In this prakaram,there are sculptures depicting the wonderful feats of Lord Siva.In the southern part of this prakaram the idols of the sixty three saints are installed .We also find the idols of Saraswathi (Goddess of Learning).At the south western corner is the Utsava Moorthi (idol taken out of the temple during festivals ).At the north western corner is the idol of Kasi Viswanathar (Lord Viswanatha of Varanasi).The idol of Bikshadanar (the Lord of Begger's pose)also is seen here.
In the northern prakaram we find the idols of siddha ,the doer of wonderful feats an ancient Kadamba Tree.Kanagasabhai (Golden hall)the Yard of offering,the idol Lakshmi (Goddess of wealth) Rathnasabhai.The Vanni tree and the well and a number of other deities including Durga (Goddess of Power) are also in this prakaram.
There is a legend about the vanni tree and well.A
certain couple came to Madurai from an outside place to settle and earn living.But citizen would not believe them to be legally wedded.As this the wife prayed to Lord Sundareswara.He took pity on the lady and created the well to prove her statement.
In this prakaram there is also and opening.
leading to a tunnel.This tunnel once connected the Thirumalai Naick and his consorts are said to have used come to the temple.
It is also said that this passage was used to hide the valuable ornaments and jewellery of the temple from the enemies and robbers of yore.
After coming round this prakaram,we enter the inner prakaram of Lord Sundareswarar.We first come to a big hall called 'Velli Ambalam'.Here we see the dancing idol of Nataraja (Dancing Lord). At Chidambaram the dancing idol is covered with golden leaves.But at Madurai the idol of Nataraja is covered with silver leaves .Hence this hall is named Velli Ambalam (silver hall)
There is also another peculiarity about this idol in the Ananda (joyous)dancing pose one of the seven kinds of dancing.
Generally the dancing figure of Nataraja will show the left leg and hand lifted up.But here the right leg and hand are raised .There is legend about this also.
King Rajasekara Pandyan was skilled in sixty three arts.He wished to learn the sixty-fourth of dancing .So he became a disciple of Karikala chola who was an expert in this art .The Pandya king realised in the course of his lessons the great difficulties in learning the art.He also wondered how Lord Siva would be feeling by dancing with same foot on the ground without touching the ground with the other .So he begged the Lord to dance ,alternately placing each foot on the ground.There upon the Lord yielded to his request .Thus we find Nataraj's dancing pose at Madurai with the right foot -lifted up whatever be the reason,we notice in this statue the skill of the artist that can be hardly surpassed.
Passing the Velli Ambalam,we come to the sanctum sanctorum of Lord Sundareswara .Sundara is seen in the from of a Lingam (semi cylindrical stone)with a curve at the top.This Lingam is installed under a canopy,called Indravimanam.
Though Siva is worhipped in several forms,the authentic form of worship is the Lingam or Sivalingam.Sivalingam consists of NADHAM of perpendicular stone and BRIDHAM or round shaped stone .It represents the aspects of OMKARA PRANAVA.In this way it consists of Brahma,Vishnu,Rudra and Siva .The bottom portion is Brahma ,the circular portion is Vishnu,the perpendicular portion is Rudra .The top most portion is Siva.This represents a,u,m and half a mantra.Siva has rupam or figure.He can be seen in Arupam (form less) and Rupam (form).Rupam and Arupam (form and no form is sivalingam).
In this quadilateral structure ,on each side there are two elaphants,eight lions and sixteen Bootha Ganas (goblins).
On eastern side of the Kambathadi Mandapam there is a five storeyed tower,66 feet height,its base is 42 feets long and 33 feet broad.There are 280 sculptures in it.The tower was built in 1372 by Vasuvappan.
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