Meenakshi Sundareswarar, Ammankurichi
God
Sundareswarar, facing east
Goddess
Meenakshi, facing south
Other Deities
Vinayaka, Somaskandar, Nalvar, Sapthamadar, Sahasralingam, Balamurugan, Gajalakshmi, Muruga with consorts, Bhairava, Navagraha, Surya with consort, Chandran, Anjaneya. Sanctum Niches – Dakshinamurthy, Lingotbavar, Durga, Chandikeswara
Meenakshi Sundareswarar Ammankurichi is an east facing temple with a large entrance mantapam with another stage and mantapam on its northern side. This entire area has about 60 pillars with ornamental carvings. After this is a 2 tiered Gopuram that leads inside to the single Prakaram. A long Mahamandapam is followed by the ardha mantapam and the sanctum sanctorum. From the Mahamandapam is the entrance to the south facing shrine of the goddess. The spacious prakaram has the other shrines. On the sides of the Prakaram are long mandapams along the wall housing various deities and shrines. A temple tank is outside on the southeast side of the temple. A large tablet of inscriptions is seen here mounted seperately. Some carvings of Nayak Kings and their Queens worshiping the lord are seen here.
Holy Water – Temple Tank
Holy Tree – No Information
History
Meenakshi Sundareswarar Ammankurichi is an old temple under the control of the Archaeological Survey of India. The temple dates abck to Madurai Nayak Dynasty (1529 to 1736 CE)Inscriptions are found here including one on a large tablet. This inscription mentions the contributions to the temple made by one Poochi Nayakar who is said to have constructed the temple.
Legend
No Information
Directions
Meenakshi Sundareswarar Ammankurichi is about 36 kilometers west of Pudukottai via Peraiyur and Thenimalai. It is about 20 kilometers east of Thuvarankurichi on the Trichy to Madurai Highway.
Food and Stay
None locally. The places of stay would be Thiruchirapalli and Pudukottai.