Tiruvalampozhil Aatmanatheswarar Temple

Site Name: Aatmanatheswarar temple
Site Type: Hindu temple
Location:  Tiruvalampozhil, located near Tiruvaiyaru, near Tanjore city, Tamil Nadu state, India
Highlights: One of 274 Paadal Petra Sthalams (the most important temples of Lord Shiva)
Nearest Railway Station: Tanjore
Nearest Airport: Trichy
How to reach: Well connected by road from Tanjore and Tiruvaiyaru; public transport is not dependable
Hotel: No good hotels nearby; better to stay in Tanjore
Restaurants: No good restaurants nearby; it is better to go to Tanjore

Tiruvalampozhil is a village near Tanjore town in South India. It is located near Tirukkandiyur, which in turn is located near Tiruvaiyaru. The village has an important temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. It is considered as the 10th among the Devara Paadal Petra Sthalams (274 most important temples of Lord Shiva) located in the Chola region south of Cauvery river.

Highlights:
  • Appar has revered the temple in his verses in Devaram.
  • God Aatmanatheswarar 
  • Goddess Gnanambikai
  • Sthala Vruksha (Holy tree) - Banyan
  • Considered as one of the Devara Paadal Petra Sthalams

Legend:

It is believed that Kashyapa rishi and Ashta Vasus worshiped the main deity of this temple.

Temple Layout:

Aatmanatheswarar temple is located in a small village Tiruvalampozhil. It is considered as the 10th Devara Paadal Petra Sthalam located in the Chola region south of Cauvery river. The west facing small temple has a tower. Although it is an ancient temple, the temple looks new thanks to white washing and renovation. In fact, it has lost its ancient beauty due to this.

Aatmanatheswarar is found in the form of a slightly large sized Shiva Linga in the main shrine. Adjacent to his shrine, the shrine of Goddess Gnanambikai is found. The temple has only one prakara. The sub-shrines of Ganesha and Subramanya-Valli-Devasena are located in the prakara. Dakshinamurti, Vishnu, Durga and Vishnu Durga are found as the niche images around the main shrine. As usual, Chandikeshwarar sub-shrine is also found.

The flag staff, bali peetha and Nandi mandapa are located facing towards the main shrine.

Happy travelling. 

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