Amuthalingeswarar Aruppukottai

Amuthalingeswarar Aruppukottai is a large east-facing temple with a 7 tiered Rajagopuram in the eastern entrance. All four cardinal directions have entrances with 5 tiered Gopurams above them. These entrances are normally not open. Adjoining the Rajagopuram on its south side is another entrance with a beautiful Mukha Mandapam with shrines of Vinayaka and Muruga on either side. As you enter through Rajagopuram into the outer Prakaram there is a marble Vinayaka, a beautiful small theertham tank, and an amalgamation of Peepal and Neem trees. The Shiva sanctum is straight ahead of the Rajagopuram. On the south side of Shiva is a separate shrine for Lord Vishnu as Varadaraja Perumal in a separate Prakaram. He is about 5 feet tall and seen here standing with his consorts Sreedevi and Bhoodevi. There are several relief carvings around the Prakaram including Dasavatar, Renganadar, Venugopala, and Pattabhisheka Ramar. There are several deities in the Prakaram as mentioned above. Coming around the outer Prakaram you see the other gopurams on all the sides and shrines for Pazhani Andavar, Vaazhavanda Amman, and Ayyapan. Crossing a metal plated flagstaff, balipeedam, and a beautiful Nandi you enter the inner Prakaram of Lord Shiva. A Mahamandapam and Ardha Mandapam are before the main deity. The goddess shrine faces south and shares the Mahamandapam. All the other deities and their shrines are around the sanctum sanctorum of the main deity and the goddess. This is a beautifully maintained temple and a very peaceful time can be experienced here. Outside the temple, on the east side, a little distance away is the Temple Tank of Amuthalingeswarar Aruppukottai.