Tirulokanathar Temple, Thakkalur

Tirulokanathar Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Shiva, one of the main deities of Hinduism. It lies in Thakkalur in Puducherry, India. ^{[1] [2] [3]}

Vaippu Sthalam

This temple is one of the shrines of the Vaippu Sthalams, built by Tamil Saivite Nayanars Appar and Sundarar. ^[2]

Presiding deity

The presiding deity in the garbhagriha , represented by the lingam , is known as Tirulokanathar. The Goddess is known as Dharmasamvardhini. ^[1] Earlier they were called Svetharanyar and Anandavalli. ^[2]

Specialities

Lord Shiva can be found in many places. Among them are Idaimaruthu, Engoi, Ramacheram, Innambar, Emaperur, Thakkalur, Thalayalankadu, Kodumudi, Courtallam, Kollamputhur, Kottaru, and Kadambandurai. ^[3]

Architecture

The temple does not have rajagopura . It has an entrance and a compound wall. After entering from the east outer prakara , nandhi and balipeeta are found. Through the inner entrance, the garbhagriha of the presiding deity can be reached. It faces east, while the Goddess faces south. The temple is renovated . ^[3] The shrine of Nataraja, known as Nataraja Sabha is also there. ^[2] In the corner of the front mandapa , Bhairava and Chandra and in the outer prakara, Vinayaka, Visvanathar and Gajalakshmi are found. ^[1]

References

1. பு.மா.ஜெயசெந்தில்நாதன், தேவார வைப்புத்தலங்கள், வர்த்தமானன் பதிப்பகம், சென்னை, 2009
2. "Thakkalur Temple Sthala Puranam - தக்களூர் கோயில் தலபுராணம்". shaivam.org. Retrieved 2020-07-09.
3. "தக்களூர் திருலோகநாதசுவாமி திருக்கோவில், வைப்புத்தலம் - Thakkalur, Vaippu thalam". www.shivatemples.com. Retrieved 2020-07-09.