Basic information about the temple

Moolavar:	Ekanayakar	Ambal / Thayar:	–
Deity:	Siva	Historical name:
Vriksham:		Teertham:
Agamam:		Age (years):
Timing:	– to – & – to –	Parikaram:
Temple group:		–
Sung by:		Temple set:
Navagraham:		Nakshatram:
City / town:	Alichikudi	District:	Cuddalore
Maps from (click):	Current location	Ariyalur (59 km)	Viluppuram (67 km)
	Mayiladuthurai (69 km)	Cuddalore (69 km)

Location

Sthala puranam and temple information

Nestled serenely on the left side of the road, beyond the bustling bypass road from Vriddhachalam to Karuvepilangurichi in the south, stands the resplendent Ekanayagar temple, simple but elegant in its own right.

Every large temple is supposed to have eight sub-temples in the four cardinal and sub-cardinal / intermediate directions, and each of these are typically associated with the eight ashta-digpalakas – guardians of the directions. The general association is: East – Indra; Southeast – Agni; South – Yama; Southwest – Nirutti; West – Varuna; Northwest – Vayu; North – Kubera; Northeast – Isana / Isanya.

This temple, located south of the Vriddachalam Vriddhagireeswarar temple, may therefore be regarded as the Yama lingam or Yama sthalam of the Vriddachalam temple.

There is no raja gopuram or indeed a gopuram of any description. Instead, the eighteen-foot mandapam on the axial line stretching from east to west, and located a few feet away from the road, is the highlight of this temple.

The mandapam / corridor leads directly to the garbhagriham, where Lord Siva – as Ekanayakar – faces west and blesses devotees. In front of the sanctum is a beautiful Nandi and an bali peetham. A wide, multi-pillared hall surrounds the sanctum sanctorum, but there are no shrines for any other deity. On the southern side of the premises, is a Vinayakar vigraham in a small, north-facing shrine.

The etymology of the name of Lord Siva here as Ekanayakar – the sole lord – is not known. However, it is interesting to note that the Somaskandar deity of the Tiruvidaimaruthur Mahalingeswarar temple, is called Ekanayakar.

There is no information on the age, history or other particulars about this temple. It is believed that the original temple was located on the banks of the Manimuthar river that runs between Vriddhachalam town and this temple. The temple as it stands today, built on a fairly large plot of land, was constructed in recent years as is evident from the construction and design. Going by the pillars and some of the carvings on them, it could be that this temple was constructed / renovated by the Nagarathar community.

Other information for your visit

As there are no doors or gates, the temple premises are open through the day. The garbhagriham is secured by a grilled gate, which is closed during the day when there is no priest present. However, between evening and early morning, the doors of the garbhagriham are shut, so visitors may plan their visits accordingly.

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