Sri Prakannayagi Amman Shrine

Sri Prakannayagi shrine came into existence probably in the beginning of 14^th century A.D. There is a separate shrine for Sri Prakannayagi Amman. This shrine faces west. This shrine consists of a garbhagrha, an antarala, ardhamandapa, mahamandapa and a kolu mandapa. The garbhagrha facing west is square on plan. It has an upapltha consisting of an upana with padmadala followed by a kantha and padma. The kantha is paralled by gadlapddas.

Above the upapitha stands the adhistana. Its lowest moulding is a three tiered upand followed successively by padma moulding, jagati between the padmadalas, smooth and flexible kumuda, a short and narrow kantha and pattika interposed between the kantha. The kantha is divided into a number of galapadas.

Above the adhistana is the wall which contains a number of brahma kantha pilasters, Square in cross-section besides the one flanking the niches. The niches are crowned by makaratoranas. They are free from sculptures. The pilasters consist of kal, idaikkattu, kalasa, bulbous kumbha and a thick abacus (palagai) with the idal modify below. Above the abacus is the corbel of bevel type.

The prastara on the corbels carry the beam. Above this is vajana, a project course of cornice followed by a valabhi. The cornice (kapota) over the valabhi is smooth and flexed with a decorated lower brim. The kapota is embellished by kudu arches. There is the kapota moulding connects the cornice of the vimana.

Over the roof cornice there is a vimana of two tries. The talas of the vimana has a row of panjaras, rectangular in the middle and square at the corners. In between the kuta and the koshthas panjaras is the nasika. The koshthas and kutapanjaras carry pilasters and the devakostas. The pilasters are not easily discernible as they are almost covered by crowded sculptures without any space left behind. The kosta panjaras carry a single final at the top unlike the kuta panjaras which carry three finals in a row. The kosthas have plain sikharas, not exactly the replica of the main sikhara of the vimana. The sola decoration of the vimana shows kirtimukha finals on either side of gable ends.

In the centre of the sola between the gable ends is kirimukha raising up to the stupi. It is a wall of decorated arch with three kalasas with a well pronounced simhamukha at the top raising almost up to the lower brim of the griva.

Preceding the sanctum are idainaligai, ardhamandapa and mahamandapa which show the component parts like adhistana and bhitti in continuation with that of the sanctum. The ardhamandapa is supported by four pillars consisting of a base, inverted lotus, and circular shaft. Above this is the crowning member of the typical Chola corbels.

The mahamandapa is supported by six rudrakantha pillars with beveled type corbels. The external walls of mahamandapa is simple in nature. This mandapa is flanked by two dvarabalakis at the eastern entrance, Jaya to the right, and Vijaya to the left.