Bhuvaneswari Amman, Pudukkottai, Pudukkottai

Basic information about the temple

Moolavar:	Bhuvaneswari Amman	Ambal / Thayar:	–
Deity:	Amman	Historical name:
Vriksham:		Teertham:
Agamam:		Age (years):
Timing:	to & to	Parikaram:
Temple group:		–
Sung by:		Temple set:
Navagraham:		Nakshatram:
City / town:	Pudukkottai	District:	Pudukkottai
Maps from (click):	Current location	Pudukkottai (4 km)	Karaikudi (43 km)
	Tiruchirappalli (60 km)	Thanjavur (69 km)

Location

Sthala puranam and temple information

This is one of the most popular temples in the town of Pudukkottai, despite its recent history – the temple was established only as recently as in 1962. However, the deity here is regarded as being extremely powerful, which explains the ceaseless throng of visitors to this temple.

Sakti – the primordial energy – is known by various names, including Parasakti, Raja Rajeswari, etc. Each of these has different aspects, one of which is Bhuvaneswari, meaning the ruler of the worlds.

The grand façade outside leads to a rather simple one-shrine garbhagriham inside, with a beautiful vigraham of Bhuvaneswari Amman, depicted with four arms – the front two hands in abhaya hastam and varada hastam, and the rear hands holding the pasam and ankusam. A Srichakra Maha Meru is installed in front of the shrine.

In the prakaram are other deities, but most notable of them all are three large vigrahams – Pancha Mukha Sankata Hara Herambha Maha Ganapati, Maha Durga depicted with 18 hands, and Pancha Mukha Anjaneyar. The Pancha Mukha Anjaneyar is depicted with five different faces – Hanuman (monkey), elephant, Narasimhar, Garuda and Varaha (boar).

In front of the large Vinayakar is Abhishtha Varada Maha Ganapati, and in front of the large Anjaneyar is Murugan. There are separate shrines also for the eighteen siddhars, Siva as Kasi Viswanthar, Murugan, Ayyappa and Dakshinamurti.

The temple trust maintains various educational institutions, including a Veda Patasala.