Avudaiyar Temple
Avudaiyar koil
Avudaiyarkoil is 40 km from Pudukkottai. The Athmanathaswami temple situated here contains graceful life-size sculptures which are of absorbing interest. This temple is unique in many ways. There is no Lingam in the sanctum, only the Audaiyar or it bottom pedestal I worshipped. Even the Goddess is not displayed by any form. No Neivedyam of food is offered to the deity. Even Nandhi the mount of Siva usually in front of the deity is absent. There is deep spiritual significance in the queerness. Hinduism allows idol worship only for the beginners in the initial stage. As the devotee and his devotion mature he has to realize the absolute truth as formless. Simply to illustrate this, this temple has been modeled like this on monistic principles. This is the only Saivaite shrine in the whole of India to portray the supreme truth symbolically. Since the soul (Atma) has no form, the deity is called Atmanathar. This temple is supposed to heve been built by Manicka Vasagar, one of the 63 Saivate saints who spent all the money he got for purchasing horses for the pandya king in building this temple. As he was bereft of money, God played one of His Thiruvilaiyadal by transforming foxes into horses, god played one of His Thiruvilaiyadal by transforming foxes into horses and once they were entrusted to the king, they were reconverted into foxes again. Many legends vividly describe this.
Besides the legendary and spiritual fascination, the temple is also unique and unrivalled from the sculptural point of view. The temple is noted for its zephyr (granite roof) work. The ceiling of the Knanka Sabhai is a grandeur creation in stone – the rope, rafters and nails are all in granite. The bow wielding Muruga, Kali and Siva’s Rudra Thandavam are the finest specimens in sculptural art. The car of this temple is renowned for its wood carvings. The temple in noted for zephyr (granite roof) work. The sanctum sanctorum is covered with copper plate and is similar to the Chidambaram Natarajar temple.