Mutheeswarar Athur

Mutheeswarar Athur is a medium sized east facing temple with the entrance gateway from the south. All the shrines and sanctum are located in one spacious Prakaram. As you enter Varahi is in a separate shrine facing North. In the north western corner is a rare idol of Jeshta Devi. She is seen with a woman next to her with the face of a donkey and a flag with the crow in it. The Shiva Lingam is seen with a thin line separating the right and the left halves representing the Ardhanareeswara concept of Man and Woman together. There is a space in the ground which is covered possibly to hide the idols during invasions. There are four other Lingams which have been found here, two with Aavudayars (base) and two Banalingams without a base. it is thought that there could have been 8 of them here, but the rest have not been found. The holy tree here, Mango, has a forked trunk, each side yielding fruits with different tastes, considered in line with the Arthanareeswara concept. The Nandi outside faces the Lord through a nine slotted window (Navadhwara) and there is one more Nandi inside the sanctum. the Idol of Lord Muruga as Shanmuga here at Mutheeswarar Athur is a very beautiful piece with 6 faces, 12 hands seated on a fine peacock, all carved out of a single stone, balancing itself perfectly without mounting.