page_title: Atulya Nadheswarar Temple
section_title: Architecture
hierarchical_section_title: Atulya Nadheswarar Temple / Architecture
caption_attribution_description: English: Atulya Nadheswarar Temple
context_page_description: Atulya Nadheswarar Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to the deity Shiva, located in Arakandanallur, a town panchayat in Viluppuram district in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Shiva is worshipped as Atulya Nadheswarar, and is represented by the lingam. His consort Parvati is depicted as Azhagiya Ponnazhagi. The presiding deity is revered in the 7th century Tamil Saiva canonical work, the Tevaram, written by Tamil saint poets known as the Nayanars and classified as Paadal Petra Sthalam.
  The temple complex covers two acres, built on a granite hill and it houses a seven tier gateway tower known as gopurams. The temple has a number of shrines, with those of Atulya Nadheswarar and his consort Azhagiya Ponnazhagi being the most prominent.
  The temple has four daily rituals at various times from 7:00 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., and four yearly festivals on its calendar. The Brahmotsavam festival celebrated during Vaikasi is the most prominent festival.
  The original complex is believed to have been built by Pallavas, with later expansion by Cholas, while the present masonry structure was built during the Vijayanagara Empire during the 16th century.
context_section_description: This temple is situated in Arakandanallur, a town panchayat in Viluppuram district, located 2 km from Tirukoilur on the Tirukoilur - Viluppuram highway. The temple is located on the northern banks of Cheyyar River. The nearest railway station is at Tirukoyilur and the nearest airport is Chennai International Airport. The Shiva temple at Arkandanallur is spread over an area of 2 acres (8,100 m²). The main rajagopuram is on the West side with seven tiers and pierces the large rectangular granite walls.  The temple tank, Indra Theertha, is located 1 km (0.62 mi) from the temple. The temple is built on a granite hill and there are two corridors inside the temple. The main shrine accommodates the image of Shiva known as Atulya Nadheswarar in the form of Lingam.  There is a separate shrine for Azhagiya Ponnazhagi to the right of Atulya Nadheswarar's shrine in the second precinct. The first precinct on the four sides of the sanctum sanctorum are decorated with the images of Nayanmars, Navagrahas, Bhairava, Murugan Sannadhi in the northwest and Durga Sannadhi on the northeast. The two Nandis in the temple are called Pradosha Nandi and Adigara Nandi - there are placed slightly off axis to the sanctum. The Saniswarar image in the temple is depicted with him having a foot over his vehicle mount crow. The Murugan image is depicted with a single head and six hands. The Shrine of Annamalaiyar is located South East of the central shrine in the second precinct. The rock-cut temples from the Pallava period are centred to border around the Pennar river, forming the southern extremity of the series. The Sapthamatrika images are present in the first precinct and are depicted flanking on the sides of Shiva or Vinayaga, attributing to their male counterparts.
caption: Shrine of vimana in the temple
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