Ardhanareeswarar Temple, Rishivandiyam – The Temple

Ardhanareeswarar Temple, Rishivandiyam – The Temple

This Temple is facing towards east with five tiered Rajagopuram. There is a sixteen pillared Mandapam in front of the Rajagopuram. Stucco images of Shiva family can be seen at the top of the Mandapam. There is a four pillared Mandapam housing the Nandi in the road leading to this Temple. Balipeedam, Dwajastambam and Nandi can be seen immediately after the Rajagopuram facing the sanctum. 

Vasantha Mandapam can be seen on the left side immediately after Rajagopuram. This Mandapam has five musical pillars which produces rhythmic sounds. Vahana Mandapam can be seen on the right side immediately after the Rajagopuram. There are two Yazhi pillars in this Mandapam. Yazhi carved in one of the pillar has a stone ball in its mouth. The stone ball can be rotated inside its mouth but cannot be taken out.

The Sanctum Sanctorum consists of Sanctum, Antarala,  Ardha Mandapam and Maha Mandapam. Presiding Deity is called as Ardhanareeswarar and is facing east. He is housed in the sanctum in the form of Lingam. Lord is a Swayambhu Moorthy (self-manifested). The Lingam is unique at it houses both Lord Shiva and Mother Parvathy.

The image of Mother Parvathy cannot be seen normally. The image of Parvathi with parrot in her hand is seen only when abhishekam is performed to Lingam with honey and milk. The Vimana over the sanctum is of two tiers. Vinayaga, Dakshinamoorthy, Lingodbhava, Brahma and Durga are the koshta idols located around the sanctum walls. Chandikeswarar can be seen in his usual location.

Utsava Idol (Somaskanda), Bhairava, Surya, Nataraja with his consort Shivagami, Vinayagar and Palliayarai (Sleeping Chamber) can be seen in Maha Mandapam. Mother is called as Mukthambika. She is housed in a separate east facing shrine. Her shrine consists of Sanctum, Antrala and Ardha Mandapam. Nandi can be seen in front her shrine facing the sanctum. A life size idol of Lord Vishnu can be seen in the Ardha Mandapam of her shrine.

There are shrines for Vinayagar, Murugan with his consorts Valli & Devasena, Agastheeswarar with his consort, Vishwanathar with his consort Visalakshi, Annamalaiyar with his consort Unnamulai Ammai, 63 Nayanmars, Nagas, Navagrahas and stucco image of Ardhanareeswarar in the temple premises. Theerthams associated with this temple are Agastya Theertham, Indra Theertham, Sankara Theertham, Gnana Botha Pushkarini and Agni Theertham. Sthala Vrikshams are Punnai Tree and Mahila Tree.