File:Panangadi Sri Vitiruindha Perumal Temple.jpg

English: Panangadi Sri Vitiruindha Perumal Temple is all about more than 1000 years old history

Leave alone the Temple City. The entire Madurai district perhaps can be labelled as “Temple district” given the fair sprinkling of ancient temples in the region. To name yet another, is the one in Panangadi village, 32 kms from the city. The ‘Sri Vitiruindha Perumal Temple’ has four stone inscriptions written in Tamil on three sides of the wall except the eastern side. The sanctum sanctorum, has the deities of Lord Vishnu along with his consorts Sri Devi (Goddess of Wealth) and Bhoo Devi (Goddess of Earth) on the right and the left respectively. The small mandap in the front has the deities of Lord Vishnu belonging to Chola period and Lord Anjaneya sitting on a ‘peedam.’ The outer walls have stone windows on three sides and Lord Narasimhar on the southern side facing the temple tank. “Lord Vishnu is found in sitting posture as it is a single-storyed structure,” says C.Shanthalingam, Archaeological Officer. Explaining the structure, he says that the temple has a sanctum sanctorum, ‘artha mandap’ and ‘maha mandap.’ Next to sanctum sanctorum, there is a circumambulatory passage similar to that of ‘Kanchipuam Varadharajaperumal Temple’ and ‘Thirukostiyur Temple.’ Referring to the temple ‘vimana,’ Mr. Shanthalingam confirms it to be a ‘Dravida vimana’ (eight-faced) stucco structure. ANCIENT (Clockwise) Lord Vishnu with his consorts in sanctum sanctorum, Lord Narasimhar and

the stone windows on the walls of the temple and Lord Anjaneya and Lord Vishnu in Maha Mandapam.