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 Suruttappalli is a village in Andhra
Pradesh, just across the border from Tamil Nadu, near Ottukkottai. It has been made famous by the Siva temple, which is quite unique. Usually Lord Siva is seen only in the form of a Linga in the sanctum sanctorum and only the bronze sculpture taken out in the procession has the human form. But in Suruttappalli He is seen in human form and that too in the reclining pose like Vishnu
Ananthasayana.
Lord Siva is seen relaxing with His head on the lap of Goddess
Parvathi; as per the legend when He consumed poison, which emerged out of the
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churning of the Milky Ocean in order to save the
Devas, He felt a little dizzy and rested. The following day when He woke up He found the Devas looking happy and feeling relieved began His cosmic dance, which is celebrated as
'Pradosha' every month in the Siva temples.
This temple attracts around 4000 devotees on every
'Pradosha'. The granite sculpture of the reclining Lord is quite big, as also the image of the seated
Parvathi. The temple is supposed to have been built during the reign of Bukraya of the Vijayanagar period. There is nothing special about the architecture, which is simple and follows the Dravidian style. The reining Goddess is known as
Maduravalli; unusually there is no shrine for Ganesha and He is placed just outside the shrine of the Goddess on a
'Thinnai'.
Lakshmi Venkatraman
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