Moondreeswaramudayar, Athalanallur

Moondreeswaramudayar Athalanallur is an old east facing temple with 2 Prakarams. The outer Prakaram is filled with weeds and on the south side is an ancient dilapidated sanctum for Lord Shiva and his south-facing consort. The names of these deities are not known. The Inner Prakaram to the main temple is entered through a corridor that has the balipeedam, flagstaff, and Nandi. A small gopuram is on top of the door. The inner prakaram has cloistered Mandapams on all sides. The Dakshinamurthy idol here is different from others with the left leg folded up on top of the right knee. The feet of the folded leg is turned upwards. On the western side are 3 small shrines for Shiva Lingams. A Maha Mandapam and Ardha Mandapam is before the Sanctum Sanctorum of the Lord and the shrine of the goddess. The carvings and sculptures in Moondreeswaramudayar Athalanallur are good, particularly one of a priest performing Deepa Aradhana to Lord Muruga. The Tamiraparani river flows right behind the temple. From the looks of it and the surroundings, this would have been a large temple in the ancient past.