SidneyBecnel at 12:37, 7 April 2026

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{{Short description|Shiva temple in Tamil Nadu, India}}
{{Orphan|date=February 2024}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2020}}
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2020}}
{{Infobox temple
| name = Thukkachi Abatsahayesvar Temple
| image = Thukachi abatsahayesvarartemple11.jpg
| alt =
| caption =
| map_type =
| map_caption =
| coordinates =
| country = [[India]]
| state = [[Tamil Nadu]]
| district = [[Kumbakonam]]
| location = Thukkachi village, on the banks of the [[Arasalar River]]
| elevation_m =
| deity = Lord [[Shiva]]
| year_completed =
| architecture =
| creator =
| website =
}}
'''Thukkachi Abatsahayesvar temple''' (also known as ''Sri Abathsahayeswarar Sowndaranayaki Ambal temple'') is a [[Shiva]] temple in Thukkachi village near [[Kumbakonam]] in [[Tamil Nadu]], [[India]].<ref name="thehindu"/>

== History ==
The temple is in Thukkachi village, on the banks of the [[Arasalar River]], {{convert|16|km}} east of Kumbakonam. The village derives its name from Durga Achi, after the goddess [[Durga]] seen in the temple, which over time got corrupted to become Thukkachi. The original temple was built by [[Rajaraja Chola|Rajendra Chola I]] (ruled between 1014-1044 CE). Legend says that [[Vikrama Chola]] suffered from [[vitiligo]] and visited many temples to pray for respite from the disease. Lord Abathsahayeswarar (Shiva) visited him in his dream when he was camping near Thukkachi, and asked him to worship him for 48 days. The king was completely cured in due course and subsequently ordered the expansion of the temple.<ref name="thehindu"/> The temple is also known as Southern Kalahasti after the temple town of [[Srikalahasti]] in [[Andhra Pradesh]].<ref name="thehindu"/><ref name="dinamani">[http://www.dinamani.com/weekly-supplements/vellimani/2016/dec/16/%E0%AE%A4%E0%AF%81%E0%AE%95%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%95%E0%AE%BE%E0%AE%9A%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%9A%E0%AE%BF-%E0%AE%8E%E0%AE%A9%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%A9%E0%AF%81%E0%AE%AE%E0%AF%8D-%E0%AE%A4%E0%AF%86%E0%AE%A9%E0%AF%8D-%E0%AE%A4%E0%AE%BF%E0%AE%B0%E0%AF%81%E0%AE%95%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%95%E0%AE%BE%E0%AE%B3%E0%AE%A4%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%A4%E0%AE%BF-2616392.html Thukkachi also known as South Kalahasti], ({{langx|ta|துக்காச்சி என்னும் தென் திருக்காளத்தி!}}), [[Dinamani|''Dinamani'', Tamil daily]], 16 December 2016 {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161219042035/http://www.dinamani.com/weekly-supplements/vellimani/2016/dec/16/%E0%AE%A4%E0%AF%81%E0%AE%95%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%95%E0%AE%BE%E0%AE%9A%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%9A%E0%AE%BF-%E0%AE%8E%E0%AE%A9%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%A9%E0%AF%81%E0%AE%AE%E0%AF%8D-%E0%AE%A4%E0%AF%86%E0%AE%A9%E0%AF%8D-%E0%AE%A4%E0%AE%BF%E0%AE%B0%E0%AF%81%E0%AE%95%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%95%E0%AE%BE%E0%AE%B3%E0%AE%A4%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%A4%E0%AE%BF-2616392.html |date=19 December 2016 }}</ref>

==Structure==
The presiding deity of the temple is known as Abathsahayeswarar ([[Shiva]]) who faces east. His consort is Sowndaranayaki Ambal (Durga) who has a separate niche and faces south, unlike in other Shiva temples where she faces north. The other deities in the temple include [[Sharabha|Sarabeshwarar]], [[Varahi]], [[Jyestha (goddess)|Jestadevi]], [[Matrikas|Saptamatas]], [[Dakshinamurthy]], [[Vinayaka]], [[Kartikeya|Subramaniar]] with his consorts [[Valli]] and [[Devasena]], [[Mahalakshmi]], [[Lingodbhava|Lingotbhavar]] and [[Kubera]]r.A small shrine of Chandikesvara is also present, facing north.<ref name="thehindu">{{Cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-fridayreview/chola-shrine-getting-a-facelift/article7355136.ece|title=Chola shrine getting a facelift|newspaper=The Hindu|access-date=2017-07-29|language=en}}</ref><ref name="dinamani"/><ref name="dinamalar"/> The temple is famous for its sculptural and architectural beauty. It once had seven [[Prakaram|Prakaras]] but currently only has three. The Sarabeshwarar shrine of the temple is considered to be the first of the three Sarabeshwarar temples built in the temple town of Kumbakonam.<ref name="dinamalar">[https://temple.dinamalar.com/news_detail.php?id=4661 Cleaning works in Thukatchi Abatsahayesvarar Temple], ({{langx|ta|துக்காச்சி ஆபத்சகாயேஸ்வரர் கோயிலில் கோவிலில் இறை திருக்கூட்டம் உழவாரப்பணி}}), [[Dinamalar|''Dinamalar'', Tamil daily]], 19 July 2011</ref><ref>[http://www.chennaitodaynews.com/sarabeswarar-temples/ Siva's Sarabeshwarar avatar to contain Narasimha], ({{langx|ta|நரசிம்மரின் ஆக்ரோஷம் தணிய சிவபெருமான் எடுத்த அவதாரம்!!}}), Chennaitodaynews, in Tamil, 7 January 2016</ref> The [[Vimana (architectural feature)|Vimana]] of the presiding deity's shrine is similar to the one at [[Airavatesvara Temple|Darasuram Iravatesvara temple]].<ref name="dinamalar"/>

==Renovation==
In 2015, on the advice of the state government, work began on renovating the temple, which had been left in disrepair. The Indian government contributed 5.5 million [[Indian rupee|rupees]], while devotees have also contributed to the ongoing restoration efforts.<ref name="thehindu"/> The [[Kumbhabhishekham]] of the temple was held in 3 September 2023.<ref name>[https://www.dailythanthi.com/News/State/apadsakayeswarar-temple-kudamuzku-1045058 ஆபத்சகாயேஸ்வரர் கோவில் குடமுழுக்கு, தினத்தந்தி, 3 செப்டம்பர் 2023]</ref> <ref name>[https://www.etvbharat.com/tamil/tamil-nadu/live-streaming/kumbakonam-abthasagayeswara-temple-festival-2023/tamil-nadu20230903094740471471609 100 ஆண்டுகளுக்கு பின் கும்பகோணம் ஆபத்சகாயேசுவரர் கோயில் குடமுழுக்கு விழா! பக்தர்கள் சாமி தரிசனம்! ஈடிவி பாரத் தமிழ்நாடு, 3 செப்டம்பர் 2023]</ref> As the renovation was carried out in new technology, without affecting its traditional beauty it got the UNESCO award. <ref>[https://www.dinamani.com/all-editions/edition-trichy/tanjore/2024/Dec/06/nesco-award-for-apadsakayeswarar-temple ஆபத்சகாயேஸ்வரர் கோயிலுக்கு யுனெஸ்கோ விருது, தினமணி, 7 டிசம்பர் 2024]</ref>

==Photogallery==
<gallery>
File: Thukachi abatsahayesvarartemple2.jpg|[[Gopuram|Rajagopuram]]
File: Thukachi abatsahayesvarartemple5.jpg|Rajagopuram,another view
File: Thukachi abatsahayesvarartemple4.jpg|Inner [[gopuram]]
File: Thukachi abatsahayesvarartemple6.jpg|Front [[Mandapa]]
File: Thukachi abatsahayesvarartemple9.jpg|Sculptures in right side of [[gopuram]]
File: Thukachi abatsahayesvarartemple10.jpg|Sculptures in left side of [[gopuram]]
File: Thukachi abatsahayesvarartemple8.jpg|The mandapa, next to [[Gopuram|Rajagopuram]]
</gallery>

==After renovation==
<gallery>
File: Thukachi abatsahayesvarartemple17.jpg|View of [[Gopuram|Rajagopuram]] from inside
File: Thukachi abatsahayesvarartemple12.jpg|Inner [[gopuram]]
File: Thukachi abatsahayesvarartemple13.jpg|Front [[Mandapa]]
File: Thukachi abatsahayesvarartemple14.jpg|Front [[Mandapa]], side view
File: Thukachi abatsahayesvarartemple15.jpg|[[Prakaram]], rightside
File: Thukachi abatsahayesvarartemple16.jpg|[[Prakaram]], left side
File: Thukachi abatsahayesvarartemple18.jpg|The mandapa, next to [[Gopuram|Rajagopuram]]
</gallery>

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

{{coord|10.927045|79.482687|region:IN-TN_type:landmark|display=title}}

[[Category:Shiva temples in Thanjavur district]]
[[Category:Durga temples]]
[[Category:Murugan temples in Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:Chola architecture]]

Thukkachi Abatsahayesvar Temple - Revision history

SidneyBecnel at 12:37, 7 April 2026