Shiva iconography is one of the lesser known subjects - particularly in the context of tamilnadu temples. The most famous icons are Nataraja, Dakshinamoorthy, Somaskanda etc which we all know, but there are many others which have not been properly studied / identified and understood.
Also, there are variations within the known icons. When I asked Dr.Kalaikkovan what was the most impressive bronze icon he has ever seen - he said Nallur Natesa. I had actually seen this icon in Dr.Sivaramamoorthy's South Indian bronzes book so I asked what was so special about this - and he gave some details. In his opinion, it is one of the finest variations of shiva dance forms ever attempted. Incidentally, it is actually a pallava bronze icon - not a chola one! This is so special (!)that it is not available for public view - it is kept safely in a locked celler in nallur.
SB had written in the group about the mahameru vitankar (a lost icon of tanjore big temple) which is again a rare exception. He had also remarked to me about Konerirajapuram natajara where we can even feel the tiny hair marks on shiva's legs !
Dr.Kalaikkovan has found many such rare icons many temples like lalgudi, pazhuvoor, pullamangai & mazhabadi. I had written about the mazhabadi uurthuvajanu karana in the group. The pullamangai discovery happened slightly after our PS group's trip with him.
Such icons help us to understand some of the missing links and even identify certain hitherdo misunderstood portions of thevaram and other thirumurais.
Needless to mention that we don't have a serious study on the vishnu icons of tamilnadu. Temple Iconography is an interesting and exhaustive subject if we delve deep.
1. KALI : This kali was buried under the sand and was found very recently - through Kakapujanda naadi (Ref Sethuraman's Aruludai Chola mandalam) - Kulothunga period;
2. PANJA VARNESWARAR : The Sivalingam changes its color from copper to green in various FIVE intermediatary shades from dawn to dusk;
3. Alwar Kundavai Pirattiar has donated a lot to this temple;
4. Birth place of Amar Needhi Nayanar;
5. APPAR (Thirunavukkarasar) - after curing Pandiya King - was tied up in a stone and put in Mahabalipuram sea. He ashored in Karaiyerikkuppam near Cuddalore. In his one shoulder he got an impression of Soolam. Went to Pazhayarai - Sathimuitram : Got Rishabam on another shoulder. He Prays in Sathimutram : "Siva - when are you going to put your revered feet on my head?" "Come to Nallur" says a cosmic voice. He worships Panjavarneswarar : "APPADIYE SENNIMEL THIRUVADI VAITHAN" was his Padhigam hymned in Nallur.
TAIL PIECE : The stone ashoring story was not hymned in Mamallai or Thurppadhiripuliyur (Cuddalore) Padhikams. He does it in Thiruneelakudi (near Adudurai) padhikam: "In such moments of problems, I remembered you only - Siva - aboded in Thiruneelakudi!"
Incidentally, our Panchavan madevi was very much fond of Appar and gifted a lot to Thiruppugalur temple- where he siddhied. How come she liked the elderly Appar instead of romatic Sundarar?
Another thing : Arunmozhi's birth star & P.madevi's are the same : SADHAYAM!