Tirupperunturai
| Avudaiyarkoil | |
|---|---|
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 Avudaiyarkoil
Location in Tamil Nadu
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| Geography | |
| Coordinates | 10°05′N 78°35′E / 10.09°N 78.59°ECoordinates: 10°05′N 78°35′E / 10.09°N 78.59°E |
| Country | India |
| State | Tamil Nadu |
| District | Pudukkottai |
| Location | India |
| Culture | |
| Primary deity | Athmanathar(Shiva) |
| Architecture | |
| Architectural styles | Dravidian architecture |
Tirupperunthurai (Tamil: திருபெருந்துறை), known as Avudaiyarkoil (also called Athmanathaswamy temple), is a Shaiva temple situated near Aranthangi in the Pudukkottai district of Tamil Nadu. One of the sacred books of Tamil Saiva Siddhanta, Manikkavacakar's Tiruvacakam, originated from this shrine. Manikkavacakar is said to have converted the king to the religion of Shiva and built the temple with money that had been intended for war-horses.
The temple is supposed to have been built by Manickavasagar. Being the prime minister, he spent all the money given to him by the Varaguna Pandya II king to buy horses in building the temple. As he was bereft of money, Shiva displayed one of his Thiruvilayadal(holy prank) by transforming foxes to horses and once they were given to the king became foxes.
The presiding deity is formless (Atmanatar); there is no Shivalingam but only a pedestal {Avudayar} located in the sanctum, hence the name Avudayar Koil. His consort is worshipped as Siva Yoga Nayaki in iconless form. There is no Nandi bull icon. There is deep spiritual significance in the queerness. Hinduism allows deity worship only for beginners in the initial stage. As the devotee and his devotion matures, he has to realise the truth of formless. To illustrate the theology, the temple has been designed. This is the only Saivite shrine in whole of India to portray the supreme truth symbolically. Since the soul(athma) has no form, the deity is called Athmanathar. There are multiple halls in the temple that has exquisite carvings. Some of the notable halls are Panchakasra Mandapam, Natana Sabha, Deva Sabha, each of which is named after Shaivite theological terms. There are five lamps in the sanctum indicating the five time scales and 27 lamps indicating the 27 stars.
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