The Temple is situated east at the bottom of the hill half a mile west
of the Railway Station. It faces East. It has got four stately towers on
all the four sides and four high stone walls just like the rampart walls
of a fort. The Eastern Tower called the Rajagopuram is the Highest. The
Southern tower is called Thirumanjangopuram, that iin the west is called
Peygopuram and that in the north is called Ammaniamma Gopuram. The temple
occupies an extent of about 25 acres of land. The walls on the East and
West measure 700 feet each. The South wall is 1479 feet long and North
wall is 1590 feet. The Rajagopuram which adorns the East Gateway is 217
feet high with 11 storeys, its base measure 135 feet by 98 feet. This tower
was built by King Krishna Devaraya of Vijayanagar and completed by Sevappa
Nayaka of Thanjavur. Krishna Devaraya also constructed the Thousand Pillared
Mantapam and dug the tank opposite to it . Ammani Ammal a Sanyasini built
the North Gopuram which is called after her name.
The Temple is situated east
at the bottom of the hill half a mile west of the Railway Station.
It faces East. It has got four stately towers
on all the four sides and four high stone walls just like the rampart
walls of a fort. The Eastern Tower called the Rajagopuram is the Highest.
The Southern tower is called Thirumanjangopuram, that iin the west is
called Peygopuram and that in the north is called Ammaniamma Gopuram.
The temple occupies an extent of about 25 acres of land. The walls on
the East and West measure 700 feet each. The South wall is 1479 feet
long and North wall is 1590 feet. The Rajagopuram which adorns the East
Gateway is 217 feet high with 11 storeys, its base measure 135 feet by
98 feet. This tower was built by King Krishna Devaraya of Vijayanagar
and completed by Sevappa Nayaka of Thanjavur. Krishna Devaraya also constructed
the Thousand Pillared Mantapam and dug the tank
opposite to it . Ammani
Ammal a Sanyasini built the North Gopuram which is called after her name.
The towers, the pillars in the Mantapams and Vimananms
consist of figures of Sculptures Excellence. In the side walls of the
Entrance of East Gopuram
there are dance poses and figures of Bewitching Beauty. Generally stone-Idols
are fixed with what is called "Ashtabandana". But in this case
it is "Swarnabandana" (Gold) which is of Special Importance.
There are five inner rounds. Including what is called Madavilagam running
just outside the temple walls and the four car streets and the path round
the Giri the temple is said to have Seven Prakaras.
As
enjoined, one should enter the temple by the Main Gate in front of
the Sanctumsanctorum. Before entering
the Eastern
Gate we see the Sixteen-Pillared
Mantapam and the Four-Pillared Mantapam. When we pass the Eastern Tower
Gate we see the Gopura Ganapathi. This deity is held in high esteem and
veneration by all devotees and the first worship to Him. We first come
to the fifth prakaram and see before us the Kambathilayanar Sannidhi
and Gnanappai Mantapam. Here it was that God Muruga appeared in a Pillar
for the sake of the King Prabudadevaraya as prayed for by saint Arunagirinathar
in response to his famouns song "Athalasadanarada". To the
south there is the sacred tank called Sivaganga Theertham. It has stonesteps
and Thirumalapathi Mantapam on all four sides.
