Horse of Sri Perungaraiyadi Meenda Ayyanar Temple
Record: 11.30 m
Sri Perungaraiyadi Meenda Ayyanar Temple (Tamil: ஸ்ரீ பெருங்காரையடி மீண்ட ஐயனார் கோவில்) is one of the famous temple in Pudukkottai District, Tamil Nadu. It is located at Kulamangalam in Alangudi Taluk.
History
The temples history is dated back to 18th century. The exact year in which the temple is constructed is not known. The temple is currently maintained by the Tamil Nadu State Government.
Like in many Ayyanar temples, this temple also located in the border of the village as a means of securing and assuring wealth and health for all. The temple is in the bank of Villuni River.
An elephant idol facing opposite the horse idol
As per the researchers, there used to be a big Elephant idol facing opposite to the Horse idol in this Temple. This was considered one of the significance of this Temple, since it is very rare practice to construct an Elephant idol in an Ayyanar (The Horse) Temple that too facing opposite of the Horse idol. It was learned that during one of the heavy monsoon season, the flood in the Villuni River had completely destroyed the Elephant idol thus by leaving only the base of the Elephant idol. This temple take in Tamil Nadu government.
Worlds biggest horse idol
The Horse Idol is of mammoth 37 feet height with the front legs are in the Air and the others in the ground. The Idol is facing the South side. It's one of the finest creative of the ancient Tamilians. The structure is so unique in its construction and Devotees believe that it is the biggest Horse idol in the world.
Wikipedia
Aiyanar or Shasta (IAST: Aiyaṉār, Śāstā, Tamil: ஐயனார், சாஸ்தா) is a Hindu deity particularly praised by the Malayalis and Tamil speaking community of India and Sri Lanka. Sinhalese worship him in the name of Ayyanayake and in Kerala the name is Ayyappan. Some studies suggest that Ayyanar could be worshipped even in South east Asian countries in the past. According to Hindu puranic texts, Shasta is the son of Shiva and Mohini, the female avatar of Vishnu. He is primarily worshiped as one of the guardian folk deities of Tamil Nadu. The village temples of Ayyanar are usually flanked by gigantic and colorful statues of him and his companions riding horses or elephants. The well known shrine at Sabarimala is actually a Sastha temple though its main deity Ayyappan is now developed distinct from Ayyanar.
Wikipedia