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Another remarkable object found here is
a big size mirror that reflects our own image reminding the eternal truth that God is with in us
and to attain salvation, we have to worship ardently. Siva. To the eastern side, there is a 12 feet high
Nandi. It is called Makkalai. Adjacent to it lies the Konnayadi shrine.
Here lies in the hollow of a tree, Konnayadinathar, where three lingas are placed one over the
other.
In the Garuda Mandapam lying next are found the images of
Tirumala Nayak, Garuda etc. the gift of stone-cutter, displaying the supreme heights the sculpture
could reach. One of the statues is so superbly sculptured that a piece of wire when
inserted through the right nostril, comes out of the left ear, and if it is made to pass
through the right ear, it comes out of the left. Haven't the sculptors outgrown their celestial
counterparts-Viswakarma and Maya?
In the Champalaraman Mandapam, many more stone-cutters' sports are in store. It is in fact a museum of architecture and
sculpture. This pavilion contains 32 massive and grandly decorated pillars, each narrates an interesting episode from Siva
and Vishnu puranams.
Finally they enter the Karuvarai of Sthanamalayapperumal brightly illumined by the shining brass lamps. The principal deity
is Siva linga of about a foot and a half covered with gold Kavacha. The serenity of the spot, divinity of the linga and austerity
of the archakas in performing Prayer services draw out devotion to the fullest measure from every devotee and they offer
soulful prayer with palms joined and eyes closed. Next to this lies another shrine known as Thakkedam dedicated to Sri
MahaVishnu. The statue is 7 feet high and covered with dazzling silver Kavacham. His consorts Sridevi and Bhudevi are
placed in front. The entire sight recalls to the memory the Balaji Vigraha of Tirupathi. Behind this shrine are installed
Amarabhujanga perumal and Suchindraperummal in separate niches. Indeed there are as many as thirty mini-shrines inside
the prakara, and it takes hours to visit them all for worshipping. It becomes quite a rewarding experience to see the paintings
on the inner walls of the goupram. Many episodes that occurred in this place are painted with minute details, and as such
they recreate the glory of this divya kshetra.
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