Alanduraiappar Temple, Nallatthukkudi
{{Short description|Shiva temple in Tamil Nadu, India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2020}}
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2020}}
Alanduraiappar Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to the deity Shiva, located at Nallathukudi in Nagapattinam district, Tamil Nadu, India.பு.மா.ஜெயசெந்தில்நாதன், தேவார வைப்புத்தலங்கள், வர்த்தமானன் பதிப்பகம், சென்னை, 2009[https://shaivam.org/hindu-hub/temples/place/417/nallakkudi-aalanduraiyappar-temple மூவர் தேவார வைப்புத் தலங்கள், Muvar Thevara Vaippu Thalangal, நல்லக்குடி - நல்லத்துக்குடி Nallakkudi - Nallathukkudi, 6-71-3][http://www.shivatemples.com/vt/vt_kovil3/vt95.php தேவார வைப்புத் தலங்கள், நல்லக்குடி, 6-71-3]
About
This temple is one of the shrines of the Vaippu Sthalams sung by Appar, a Tamil Saivite Nayanar. Visitors may view the daily worship ritual of offering flowers or fruit.
History
Other names for the temple in the past may include "Nallakkudi," "Kuyiladuthurai," and "Kuyiladunthurai." According to historian R. P. Sethu Pillai, it was called "Kuyiladuthurai" and "Kuyilalanthurai". U. V. Swaminatha Iyer instead identifies the name "Kuyilanthurai" as referring to the temple "Karunguyilnathampettai", north of Dharmapuram. The Kumbhabhishekham of the temple was held on 8 June 1970.
Presiding deity
The presiding deity in the garbhagriha (sanctum sanctorum), represented by the lingam, is known as Alanduraiappar. The goddesses of the temple are Kuyiladu Nayaki and Kuyilanda Nayaki. While in Mayiladuthurai and Mylapore, where the goddess worshipped the presiding deity in peacock form, at this temple, she worshipped Shiva in the form of a koel, and therefore she is known as Kuyiladu Nayaki and Kuyilanda Nayaki.
Origins
Structure
The temple has no gopuram (tower) and has only one entrance. At the entrance, there is a statue of Nandi, a place for bali pīṭham (sacrifices), and the shrine of the presiding deity, which is said to be facing the west and his consort facing the south. In the Prakaram (courtyard), there are shrines for Navagraha, Bhairava, Shani, and Dakshinamurthy. In the front, there is a mandapa (hall) for Vinayaka and Subramania and their consorts Valli and Deivanai. The temple tree is a Vilva.
Location
The temple is located at Nallathukudi, at a distance of 2 km from Mayiladuthurai on the Mayiladuthurai - Nedumaruthur road. The temple is accessible by the Mayiladuthurai - Kodandudi bus route.
References
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{{Vaippu sthalam}}
{{Coord|11|06|01|N|79|41|28|E|display=title}}