Narambunathaswami Temple, Thirupudaimaruthur
Temple Timings : 5.00 a.m. to 11.00 a.m. 4.00 p.m. to 8.00 p.m
Phone : 04364 287244 96262 90350
Location : 32 kms from Tenkasi
Nearest town : 23 Kms from Tirunelveli
Important days : Thaipoosam, Panguni uthiram, Adi-pooram, Vinayaga chathurthi, Navarathri, THirukarthigai, Mahasivarathri, Panguni Uthiram
Important for : Obstacles in marriage, Evil eyes on children. Cure from prolonged illness. Family problems. Prosperity. Academic excellence. Business prosperity
Moolavar is Narambunathar and Ambal is Gomathi.
Situated on the right bank of the Tamiraparani river, this 6 acre temple with around 600 feet compound wall, combines four important styles of temple architecture that of Pandyas,Cheras,Cholasand Vijayanagara dynasty. Its one of the three temples that has Arjuna tree (marudha Maram) as the sthala vriksham, the other two being Srisailam in Andhra Pradesh and Thiruvidaimarudhur near Kumbakonam. The name comes as the Lord appeared from the true Marudham tree. Mother Gomathi Amman here is the healer of diseases and drives away evil spirits possessed by woman. The Lord and the Ambal are swayambu
This temple has five prakaram including Car and Mada streets. After Dwajasthambam. Nandhi, Suryan, the nayanmars, Agasthyar and other Gods in granite grace the temple. In this temple scenes glorifying Ramayana and mahabharatha and elegant paintings of Saivite mythology are seen
Indra the king of devas once felt very proud and insulted the Deva Guru Birhaspathi by ignoring when he entered the sabha which made the Guru sad and went out of sight. With no Guru, the Devas became weak and without much option, Indira requested the learned Asura Viswarupa, son of Dhuvashta to be his Guru. Indira, cunning he is, started suspecting viswarupa due to his Asura lineage and killed him treacherously. Hearing this Duvashta became furious and conducted a yajna and from that rose the Asura Vrithasura who was instructed to Kill Indra who with the help of Mahavishnu, killed him too and incurred the Brahmahathi Dosham. Indra hidden in a flower in the theertham and his wife Indrani who came to this sthalam, took a dip in Theertham on the banks of Tamirabarini and in the form of a Maruda tree, performed penance on Lord Shiva who gave darshan from a hole in the tree and got him relieved of the sin.
When Karuvur Chithar came to worship Shiva, Tamirabharini was in spate and hence could not cross and reach the temple. It appears when he expressed his anguish, lord just leaned on a side to hear Chithar clearly keeping his hand on the ears and prodded him to just cross the river which he did with the divine grace.
When Devas wanted the Lord to show them a place equal to kasi Varanasi. Lord placed his Brahmmadanda which moved towards River Tamirabharini and stopped at Tirupudaimarudhur.
When King Veeramarthanda went hunting in a region filled with Marutha tree, he aimed for a deer which hid itself in a tree hole. When the tree was cut to get the deer, blood oozed out and there was a Shivalinga hit on the head by the instrument. A divine voice directed him to build the temple.
Since there are scars on the head and chest of the Lord caused by injuries of sickle cut and horns of a deer, only an oil application is done instead of Abhishekams.
Giant carved wooden doors with panels of wooden carvings are a feast to the eyes. on them. Beautiful carving. The idol of Ambal is made up of Rudraksha and her shrine is on right hand side of Shiva. There is a separate shrine of Nataraja dancing with his consort and the idols are made of perfume ‘Punugu’ and hence called Punugu Sabhapathi shrine.
Vanniyappar Temple, Alwarkurichi
Temple Timings : 7.00 a.m. to 10.00 a.m. 5.00 p.m. to 7.30 p.m
Phone : 04634 283 058, 97904 01895 / 96599 66003 / 96981 76089
Location : 32 kms from Tenkasi
Nearest town : 23 Kms from Tirunelveli
Important days : Thaipoosam, Panguni uthiram, Navarathri, Thirukarthigai, Mahasivarathri
Important for : Obstacles in marriage, Child birth
Moolavar is Vanniyappar and Ambal is Sivakamasundari
This large temple spread across an acre, is considered to be more than 1000 years old and is practically in ruins. Built by a Pandya king Maravarman, it comes as the third largest temple after Papanasama and Tenkasi temples
The big sized Shiva Linga is revered as Agneeswara. The shrine is facing the east direction with a Nandi idol facing the main shrine. Ganesha is at the entrance of the Ardha Mandapa with goddess Sivakami in a separate shrine facing the south. The main shrines are located on a raised platform.
There are many pillars in the area between the tower and the main temple with idol of Yali, bali peedam, Nandi and the Kodisthambam. Natarja has a big shrine dedicated to him.The temple has two prakaras with one of them in the outer side badly maintained.
Murtis and idols of Sapta Matas, Suryan, Chandran, Bhairavar, Nagas and 63 Nayanmars are seen. Sub-shrines of Vinayaka, Subramanya with consorts- are in the inner prakaram. Smallbas-relief images of Yoga Narasimha and Brahma, which are obviously later additions, arefound on either side of Dakshinamurti.
Kalyani Amman is worshipped here when seeking boon for. The other devi in pregnant form called as ‘Garbha Rakshambikai’ is believed to grant child boon.
The Sapta Rishis due to their anger on Agni, they cursed him to lose his power who disguised as a fish hid himself inside the tank opposite to this temple. He worshipped Shiva Linga by installing in this shrine and got ultimately rid of his sins. In due course, the site became a forest full of Vanni trees and a temple was constructed by a rich devotee Vijeyendra Bhoopati Mudaliar and since it was located inside the Vanni forest, the temple became vanniyapper temple and the deity, Vaneeswarar.
Traditionally Navagrahas are in separate shrine in Shiva temples but here they are in the form of Yantras on the roof before the Lord’s shrine.
Nityakalyani Amman Temple, Kadayam
Temple Timings : 6.00 a.m. to 12.00 noon. 5.00 p.m. to 8.00 p.m
Phone : 04634 241384 240385 94430 03562
Location : 18 kms from Tenkasi
Nearest town : 55 Kms from Tirunelveli
Important days : Mahasivaratri, Chithirai car festival, Theppam, Navaratri, Thai Ammavasai, Aasi Amavasai, Kantha Sashti
Important for : For Vamsa Vriddhi
Moolavar is Vilva vananatha swamy / Vilvaranyeswarar and Ambal is Nitya Kalyani
The temple’s main Raja Gopuram is seven storeys with three prakarams and the Peetam is a Dharani Peetam.
“Kadayam” is a variant of the term “Kedayam” meaning the form of a war shield. It is believed that years ago, Goddess Parvathi as Nithya Kalyani displayed her ‘roudra swaroopa’ as the villagers sought material benefits instead of observing their religious rights and dharmic duties which resulted in successive deaths of the priests designated to perform the Daily Puja for Her. After the death of seven priests on seven successive days, when the villagers sought her forgiveness, her anger subsided, she threw her “kedayam” which fell at a place 4 miles away prompting the villagers to migrate to the spot and the village location was called Kadayam. Another legend say that the people were originally living around the kalyani amman temple and the goddess could not tolerate the noise created by the inhabitants surrounding her. She pulled out a kadagam (Bracelet in ancient Tamil) threw it to a distance and asked the inhabitants to go and reside round the spot where the bracelet fell. Thus this place was known as Kadagam, which later came to be known as Kadayam.
Another belief is that she was not happy with the Poojas as it did not conform to the norms. Performed. There were some events that lead the people to stay away from the temple. Proper appeasement poojas were done by a Brahmin from Sringagiri or Shrungagiri which pacified the Goddess and Her powers rested in the peetam and a new south facing sanctum sanctorium was constructed. Since then the Goddess has been all merciful showering wealth, happiness, wellbeing to the people who worshipped her and hence came to be known as Nithya Kalyani. (One who bestows well-being to everybody)
Kadayam is associated with the eminent poet and freedom fighter Subramania Bharati who once lived in Kadayam as his wife was a native of Kadayam. It is believed that many of his classic compositions have been done in this place.
Another legend states that Dasaratha was travelling to temples all over India to be blessed with Children. In doing so he came to the “Bilwa” forest in Kadayam, and found a “Suyambu Lingam” and offered prayers to Lord Shiva who came to be known as “Bilwa Vana Nathar” i.e. Lord of Bilwa forest. This over a period of time became Sree Vilvaranyeswarar. Vilva tree is the sthala vruksham and if the Vilva fruit from the sthala vruksham is broken, one can find a Lingam shaped formation inside, which is not seen in any other Vilva fruit.
Sri Sivasailanathar Paramakalyani Amman Temple, Sivasailam
Temple Timings : 7.00 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. 5.00 p.m. to 8.00 p.m
Phone : 04634 241384 240385 94430 03562
Location : 12 kms from Papanasam
Nearest town : 47 Kms from Tirunelveli
Important days : Poosam Theppotsavam. Ladies Rathotsavam. Offering of vastrams turmeric pooja
Important for : fulfilment of wishes
Moolavar is Sivasailanathar and Ambal is Parvati.
Surrounded by hills, The huge Sivasailam Temple with many mandapams and pillars. has a Swayambu Lingam in the Sanctum who is also called as Sadaiappar as on the back of the statue, there are lines that appear like hair which can be seen during the time of Aarthi on the back side of the Lingam viewed through a hole while strolling around the sanctum.
Raja gopuram has five stories and is exquisite with numerous carvings and statues. It is believed that when the huge statue of Nandi was sculpted, it was so beautiful that it came of life and lift off and the sculptor had to stroke on its back so that it remained seated which can be seen today. Vinayakar, Murugan, 63 Nyanmars, Dakshina Moorthy, and Natarjar grace the temple with a separate shirine for Goddess Paramakalyani which is situated next to the main sanctum.
Sri Papanasanathar Temple, Papanasam
Temple Timings : 6.00 a.m. to 1.00 p.m. 4.00 p.m. to 8.30 p.m
Phone : 04634-293757
Location : 15 kms from Ambasamudram
Nearest town : 47 Kms from Tirunelveli
Important days : Chithirai festival
Important for : Cure of Diseases, Adoption of children by God for relief in horoscope
Moolavar is Papanasanathar and Ambal is Ulagammai
Saint Agasthiyar and his wife Lopamaudhra got the Kalyana dharshan of Lord Shiva and Parvati here
Uniquely the Shiva lingam here is completely made up of Rudraksha. Papanasam is the first kshethram of the Navakailasam temples and since associated with Sun God, the place is known as Surya Kshetram or Surya Kailasam. There is a separate shrine for Natarajar in Ananda Tandavam near the Main tower
Indra the king of devas once felt very proud and insulted the Deva Guru Birhaspathi by ignoring when he entered the sabha which made the Guru sad and went out of sight. With no Guru, the Devas became weak and without much option, Indira requested the learned Asura Viswarupa, son of Dhuvashta to be his Guru. Indira, cunning he is, started suspecting viswarupa due to his Asura lineage and killed him treacherously. Hearing this Duvashta became furious and conducted a yajna and from that rose the Asura Vrithasura who was instructed to Kill Indra who with the help of Mahavishnu, killed him too and incurred the Brahmahathi Dosham. Indra hidden in a flower in the theertham and his wife Indrani who came to this sthalam, took a dip in Theertham on the banks of Tamirabarini and in the form of a Maruda tree, performed penance on Lord Shiva who gave darshan from a hole in the tree and got him relieved of the sin. Hence this place is Papanasam and Swami is Papanasanathar.
This is the first of Navakailasam temple and dedicated to Suryan.
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