This temple is about 8 kilometers from Tirupur in a small village called Sarcar Periyapalayam (S.Periapalayam). This is an ASI maintained temple. The temple has a lot of open space The vimanas (sudhai) seems to be have been recently restored. Very few people visit the temple. It is maintained very well. The main entrance is facing south. The main deity is Siva called Sugreeswarar (Sukreeswarar). Ambal is called Avudainayaki ( Aavudainayaki). As per thalapuranam Sugreeva worshipped here and hence the name Sugreeswarar.
Sugreeswarar - Entrance
The compound wall is tall and recently rebuilt. There is a big Arasamaram (fig tree) before the entrance providing a good ambiance. As we enter Vinkayar sannidhi is the first one. Next is Amman and Siva.
The main deity Sugreeswarar in the form of a linga is facing east. There are two entrances to this shrine facing south and east. Surprisingly only southern side has stone steps. The eastern side doesn’t have any original structure. It has only a recently built iron grilled steps. Since the shrine is about 4 feet above ground we can conclude that eastern entrance was not used by devotees in earlier time (sorry for the poor photography).
Soutern Entrance with regular steps
The garbhagraha is wide and well-lit so that we can have nice darshan. On the beams we can see images of Sugreeva and Airavatham doing pooja to the lord.
Airavatham and Sugreeva Worshipping
The Lord has two Nandis in front of him. As per thalapurana Nandi used become a live bull in the night and graze crops near the temple. An angry farmer cut off the ear during one night so that he can identify the bull later in the morning. None of the bulls in the village had cut off ears. But the villagers found the right ear of the nandi broken and blood oozing. The villager repented and removed the broken one and replaced with newer one. The older one was kept aside. However, to the surprise of the villagers, the next day original nandi was back in its position. The villagers decided to leave it in its place.
The Nandi nearer the lord is older and has damaged ear. Whatever may be purana, to me it appears they tried to replace the damaged one, but for some reason they could not remove older one and left it as it is.
Two Nandhis - The right ear damaged in the first
The other side of Nandis
On the outer walls of this shrine there a few beautifully carved images.. The designs on walls are simple and beautiful, especially the window with canopy . The interior of the canopy is carved like the interiors of a hut/tiled house.
The main shrine - view from back
Simple and nice designs
Dakshinamoorthi
Canopy
Design above Dakshinamoorthy
Peacock doing pooja
A closer look a canopy
An ornamental pillar
There are several inscriptions especially on the northern side. As a novice I feel they may belong to very later period – may be 17th or 18th century.
Inscriptions
A wall full of inscriptions
Inscriptions - Kannada or Telugu?
Many inscriptions are in a damaged condition. The layers are getting peeled off from the slabs. Was sand blasting done? If so will it be the cause for this? Experts please answer.
Inscriptions - peeling off
Inscriptions peeling off
Designs - peeling off
The stones are not black but slightly bright. When I went it was about 6pm. Under the evening sun the temple looked golden – an wonderful sight.
Golden glow - Temple in the evening sun
Unashamed self publicity - its me - in golden light?
Golden inscriptions?
The Ambal – Avudainayaki is very beautiful. Surprisingly the sannidhi is on the right side of the lord, which I am told is rare. Another surprise is Nandi in front of Amman also. This sannidhi seems to be later addition.
Ambal Sannidhi - flat roof
Ambal with nandi in front
There several old sculptures probably retrieved in and around the temple kept inside this sannidhi most likely by ASI. Clearly they should be very old. Most of them are damaged. However even in such condition they are beautiful especially Vishnu.
Old images
Ganesha
Vishnu?
There are several smaller shrines like Vayu Lingam, Kubera lingam, Durga, Surya, Kala Bairavar and Bhadrakali.
Bhadrakali
Surya
The thalavirutcham seems to be Vilva (There was no board, just my guess). The tree seems to be really very old.
Sthalavritcham? - Bilva/Vilva
On the whole it is a fantastic temple, plain,simple, least crowded and well maintained. Unfortunately or fortunately many people in Tirupur seems to be unaware of it. I have to thank Prof.V.P.Parthasarathy, HOD IT and Shri.Rajaraman Sysadmin of Angel College of Engg and Technology, Tiruppur for helping and accompanying me to have the darshan of the lord.
Few more photographs
View from East
Spacious and clean
Posted by ramanchennai 
