Chokkanathar Amarakunthi

Chokkanathar, Amarakunthi

Saivite Temples - Salem District

God

Chokkanathar, facing east

Goddess

Meenakshi Amman, facing east

Other Deities

Surya, Rajaganapathi, Muruga with consorts, Navagraha, Bhairava, Saneeswara, Chandran, Naalvar, Vinayaka, Nataraja. Sanctum Niches – Vinayaka, Dakshinamurthy, Lingotbavar, Brahma, Durga, Chandikeswara

Chokkanathar Amarakunthi is a small east-facing temple situated in a single Prakaram. There is a beautiful stone Dwajasthambam in front. The entrance is through a small archway and gate on the east side. After the entrance is 2 Balipeedams and a Nandi Mandapam. A Mahamandapam and Ardha Mandapam are before the sanctum sanctorum of the main deity. The outer walls of the sanctum, mandapams, and shrines are beautifully carved with ornamental patterns. The Prakaram is beautiful with tall shade-providing trees. The Muruga shrine has an unusual vimaanam in the form of a Gajaprastham. The goddess is in a separate east-facing shrine on the north side of the Prakaram. A secret passageway from the Tharamangalam Siva temple is said to lead here. There is an ancient Vinayaka temple and temples for Varadaraja Perumal and Amman nearby.

Holy Water (Theertham) – No information

Sacred Tree (Sthala Vriksham) – Vilwam (Aegle marmelos)

History

Chokkanathar Amarakunthi is an ancient temple as is evident from the Architecture. Amarakunthi was one of the ancient capital of the Gatti Mudaliars who ruled these parts. Many inscriptions have been found in other locations mentioning the importance of the place in the olden days. Some inscriptions are found in the steps of the Vinayaka Temple nearby and are attributed to the Gatti Mudali Dynasty. The temple is estimated to be as old as the Tharamangalam Kailasandar Temple.

Legend

No information

Directions

Chokkanathar Amarakunthi is about 5 kilometers north of Tharamangalam. Tharamangalam is about 23 kilometers east of Salem.

Stay and Food

None locally. The closest for food and stay would be Salem.

Saivite Temples

Tamilnadu Temples