KAL GARUDAN TEMPLE (stone eagle temple)

Kal Garuden Temple is Known as Nachiar kovil or Thirunarayur Temple in Thirunarayur,a village in the outskirts of kumbakonam in the south indian state of Tamil nadu,is dedicated to the hindu god vishnu and his wife  laksmi.it is the sub urban region of business city of kumbakonam.constructed in the tamilan style of architecture,the temple is glorified in the diviya prabandha,the early medieval tamil canon of the azhwar saints from the 6th to 9th centuries AD.

The big stone garudan statue only in tamilnadu,india.The kal garuda image in the temple used during the festive occasions is believed to increase in weight seeking 4,8,16,32,64 and 128 people in succession when the procession comes out of various gates from the sanctum to the main entrance of the temple.Nachiyarkovil is famous for nachiarkoil lamp brass lamp.The lamps are made by resident artisans called pathers (kammalar) who are living in large numbers at kammalar street,natchiyarkovil.

ARCHITECTURE

The temple is believed to have been built by King kochengat cholan. He is believed to have built 70 temples dedicated to Shiva and Thirunaraiyur is the only Vishnu temple constructed by him. The temple has a 5-tiered rajagopuram on the eastern side, raising up to a height of 75 ft (23 m). The entrance through the eastern gateway leads to a hall of 16 pillars, called Neenila Mutram. The centre of the hall is occupied by Dwajasthamba (the flag pole) and Balipeeda (the place of sacrifice), one behind the other. The front portion of the flag pole has a small shrine for Garuda. The flag pole, place of sacrifice and Garuda's shrine are in axial position from the entrance to the main sanctum. The shrine of Thirumangai Azhwar is located on the northern side. The central hall of the temple, the Goratha Mandapam, houses the images of ramanuja, koorathazhwar and idols of eleven azhwars, leaving that of andal.

Kal Garuda, an image of Vishnu's mount - Garuda, is the most prominent feature of the temple. As per local legend, the sculptor who sculpted the idol of Garuda got frustrated as the bird flew away each time, a new image was prepared. In frustration, he threw a stone at Garuda, who got injured and decided to stay at the temple as Kal Garuda. The image of Kal Garuda is made of saligrama and is housed in the shrine outside the main sanctum. During festive procession during the Tamil months of Margazhi (December–January) and panguni (March - April), the festive images are carried out in procession in Kal Garudar.