Sri Sankaralingaswami (Sankara Narayanar ) temple
Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu grace the devotees together from the sanctum sanctorum. During March and September months, the rays of Sun fall on Sankaralingam for three days from the 21st of the respective months.
Lord Sri Sankaranarayana is the main deity in the temple. Vinayaka is Anugnai Vinayaka. The temple has a 9 tier Rajagopuram. The ant-hill sand is offered as Prasad which the sick consume along with water for a cure. Devotees facing problems due to the presence of poisonous creatures in their houses as lizards, scorpions, and snakes offer silver pieces embossed with the images of such creatures for a solution.
The festival of Lord Shiva seated on His bull vehicle Nandhi granting Darshan to 63 Nayanmars takes place during Chithirai (April-May) and Margazhi (December-January) months. Adhikara Nandhi is at the entrance with His consort Suyajadevi and the Nandhi before the sanctum is under a Rudraksha Pandal-tent.
Devotees pray here to develop the quality of love for all promoting unity and to be simple and austere in nature.
Aadi Thapasu festival: Thapas means penance. Mother Parvathi took to penance to have the darshan of Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu combined as Sankara Narayana. This is the festival called Aadi Thapasu running for 12 days. As this is a festival exclusively for Ambica, She alone comes in the car procession. On the last day, Ambica goes to the Thapas Mandapa with a bag of sacred ashes – Vibhuti. Lord Sankaranarayana grants darshan to Ambica in the evening and enters the temple on the elephant vahan together.
While Annabishekam is performed in Shiva temples in Aipasi-October-November, this takes place here on the first day of Aipasi and also in Chithirai-April-May with a prayer that the year should begin without shortage of food grains in the beginning of the year (Chithirai is the first month of Tamil year) and Aipasi happens to be the beginning of auspicious days.
It is also noteworthy that Vaikunda Ekadasi in December-January is celebrated with equal festivity as in Vishnu temples for which a Sorga Vasal is constructed in the temple. Lord Vishnu grants darshan in a palanquin in reclining form.
There is a shrine for Lord Vanmeeka Nathar in the Shiva prakara. Lord Shiva in this shrine appears in an ant-hill form, his true form. It is designed as if He is sitting on a serpent with its head above Him as an umbrella. Vanmeekam means ant-hill. As Lord Shiva is in the Vanmeekam, He is praised as Vanmeekanathar. Those afflicted with adverse snake planet aspects, pray in the shrine spraying turmeric powder. There are five Naga idols before this shrine. Devotees perform abishek to these idols with milk.
Tooth pain prayer: As a tradition, Lord Lingodhbava or Lord Vishnu grace on the goshta wall around the sanctum. In this temple, this slot is occupied by Lord Yoga Narasimha. Those suffering from toothache pray here with Abhishek for relief from pain. Special pujas are offered here on Purattasi Saturdays in September-October.
There is a shrine for Lord Sarpa Vinayaka – Vinayaka with a Serpent in hand. Those facing adverse effects serpent planet Ragu, worship here at Rahu Kalam time (4.30 p.m. to 6.00 p.m.) on Sundays. To protect children from poisonous bites, devotees offer Arugampul (a variety of grass) garlands with Milk porridge (Payasam) as nivedhana to Lord Sarpa Vinayaka.
As a custom, on the Skanda Sashti festival of destroying demon Surapanma, Lord Muruga appears with a single face only in the Subramanya form. He graces with six faces that day in this temple. The wedding festival of Deivanai is celebrated the next day.
Serpent King Naga was a staunch Shiva devotee. Paduman, also a serpent, was a staunch Vishnu devotee. Both were frequently debating about the supremacy of their respective Lords. They went to Mother Parvathi for a verdict. Ambica took to penance praying to both Lords to grant a joint darshan to establish the truth that both were only equal. Responding to Mother’s penance, both granted darshan jointly as Sankara Narayana. Shiva also granted darshan to Mother Parvathi as Sankaralingam. In the days that followed, this Linga was covered by an anthill. The two serpents also were in. A devotee while demolishing the anthill, cut the tail of one serpent which began to bleed. The incident was immediately communicated to the Pandya king. He immediately built this temple.
Lord Sankaranarayana shrine is in between the shrines of Lord Shiva and Mother Gomathi. The right side of the deity belonging to Lord Shiva has Agni the fire, Ganga, crescent moon and the turf, earring, Rudraksha on the chest, Mazhu the weapon of Lord Shiva, and tiger skin clothing in the waist. Sangan is holding the umbrella in the Tiruvasi – the frame around the Lord. On the left, belonging to Lord Vishnu appears with His gem-studded crown, a hanging earring-Kundalam-tulsi bead and Lakshmi mala in the chest, a conch and the silk-peethambara around the waist. Paduma is holding the umbrella in this side. Tulsi theertha is offered as Prasad during morning pujas. Vibuti the sacred ash is offered during other pujas. Garlands of Tulsi and flowers are offered during the pujas. Vilwa for Shiva and Tulsi for Vishnu is used in pujas.
Lord Shiva is fond of Abishek-bathing while Lord Vishnu is fond of attractive dressing. Lord Sankaranaraya always appears in His best Alankara-dressing. Abishek in the shrine is offered to Lord Chandramouleeswara the Spatika Linga-crystal Linga. Pujas are offered to Him on Shivrathri and new moon days. He comes from the shrine to grant darshan to Ambica on Aadi Thapasu festival day.
Gomathi: Go means cow and Mathi Moon in Sanskrit. Maidens from the celestial world came along with Ambica in the form of cows to help Her penance. With a face as radiant as the Moon and being the owner of cows, Ambica is called Gomathi. She is also praised as Aavudayambikai being the Tamil version of Gomathi. Mother is dressed with flowers on Mondays and a golden skirt on Fridays. Those facing problems in wedding efforts and concern about children’s welfare pray to Mother Gomathi lighting lamps made of rice flour mixed with ghee.
Sri Chakra, personifying the glory and power of Shakti is installed either under the peeta bearing Ambica or in front of the peeta. Here, Sri Chakra is installed in the Mandap before Ambica. This is called Agna Chakra. Those with depression and confusion sit on this Chakra and pray to Ambica. They believe they would be freed from confusions.
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