Glimpse of Athmanathaswamy temple-Avudayar kovil-Tamil nadu.The presiding deity is formless (Atmanatar) there is no Shivaling but only a pedestal Avudayar located in the sanctum.@LostTemple7 @SaveTemplesBH @ReclaimTemples @Ethirajans 
The temple is built by saint Manickavasagar. Being the prime minister, he spent all the money given to him by the Varaguna Pandya II king to buy horses for the kingdom.Shiva displayed by transforming foxes to horses, and once they were given to the king became foxes again.
The ancient Tamil poem Thiruvasagam composed here (10th century) in which lord shiva himself was the guru.Nayaki(Yogambal) in iconless form. There is no Nandi bull icon as is conventional in almost all Shiva temples. 10 acre temple with rich sculptors and great architecture.
The temple is noted for the zephyr (granite) roof work. The ceiling of the Kanaga sabhai (golden hall) is a grandeur creation in stone. The ropes, rafters and nails all are made of granite. The bow wielding Muruga, Kali and Siva's rudra thandavam (wild dance) are the finest art.
As part of everyday ritual here in temple, the priests will put freshly cooked rice in a platform which is almost 30-40 feet away from the main deity during mid-day prayer. It is wonderful to watch that the steam from rice goes to the deity without any air flow.
1000 small pillar carving in single pillar.
A sacred Thiruvasagam written by Manikavasagar at 8th century kept here
28 Nakshatra chiseled in temple roof
Some more images on marvelous architecture.
@threader_app please compile
