| Description:
This is a another Shivastalam in the town of Tirumeeyachur,
and is located right next to the Tirumeeyachur Shivastalam
enshrining Tirumeninathar. Tirumeeyachur is in the vicinity of Ambar
and Ambar Maakaalam.
Tirumeeyachur Ilamkoyil is considered to be the 57th in the series of
Tevara Stalams in the Chola kingdom located south of the river Kaveri. It is believed that the
deities from the Tirumeeyachur temple must have
been placed here in this 'Ilam Koyil' during the time of Appar's visit. Kali is believed
to have worshipped at this shrine.
The Sakala Bhuvaneswarar temple, referred to as Meeyachur
Ilamkoyil (Balalayam) housing the image preliminarily consecrated before the
main temple came to functionis located next to the Tirumeeyachur
Temple. . It is common practice to demolish the Ilamkoyil after the
consecration. Only in rare cases is the Ilamkoyil is preserved, a suitable structure
built. At Tirumeeyachur, both these shrines are preserved and worship is carried out at
both. Appar refers to Meeyachur Ilamkoyil as Totrum Koyil or the main
temple to be, and Tonriya Koyil, or the Ilamkoyil already in existence.
This temple has a square sanctum and an ardhamandapam, in contrast to the main temple
which has an apsidal structure, with a gajaprishta vimanam, similar to those found
commonly in Tondai Naadu. |
