HH Pujyasri Sudarshana Maha Devendra Saraswathi Swamigal Adhishtanam, 65th Acharya of Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam/ புஜய ஸ்ரீ சுதர்சன மகா தேவந்திர சரசுவதி சங்கராச்சாரியார் சுவாமிகள் அதிஷ்டானம், Ilayathangudi, Sivaganga District, Tamil Nadu.

The visit to this HH Pujyasri Sudarshana Maha Devendra Saraswathi Swamigal Adhishtanam, at Ilayathangudi, Sivaganga District, was part of “Shiva, Vishnu and Buddhist Temples Visit in Puducherry, Nagapattinam and Sivagangai Districts”, from 8^th to 10^th April 2026.

His Holiness Pujyasri Sudarsana Mahadevendra Saraswati Shankaracharya Swamiji was from Thiruvidaimaruthur, in Thanjavur District. He was born to Sri Seshathri Sasthrikal, known as Mahalingam. He took Sanyasa and anointment as the 65th Shankaracharya of Sri Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam in 1851. He toured extensively and went on pilgrimage, touching the borders of Orissa.

The 65th Shankaracharya attained siddhi at Ilaiyathangudi in Tamil Nadu on Amavasya in the month of Phalguna of the cyclic year Virodhi (1890 CE). A temple has been built by the Nattukottai Chettiars on his samadhi. 

Adhistana Jeerorthna Swarna bandhana maha kumbhabhishekam was conducted on 23rd June 2019, by the 70th Peedathipathi Jagadguru Pujyasri Sankara Vijayenthra Saraswati Swamigal.

An inscription tablet fixed on the wall, in front of the sanctum sanctorum, reads as…

இந்த அதிஷ்டானத்தில் இது சம்பந்தமான சிலாசாஸனம் வருமாறு:

"ஸ்ரீ சந்திர மௌளீச்வராய நம": ஸ்வஸ்தி ஸ்ரீசாலிவாஹன சகாப்தம் 1811 கல்யப்தம் 4990 இதன்மேல் செல்லாநின்ற விரோதி வருஷம் பங்குனி பகுளம் அமாவாசை பூர்வபாத்ரா நக்ஷத்திரம் குருவாரம் கூடிய சுபதினத்தில் ஸ்ரீ மத் சங்கர பகவத்பாத பிரதிஷ்டித காஞ்சி காமகோடி பீடாதிபதி அவர்களும் ஸ்ரீமத் சந்திரசேகரேந்த்ர ஸரஸ்வதியென்ற ஸ்ரீசங்கராச்சார்ய ஸ்வாமியவர்களுடைய அந்தேவாசி ஸ்ரீமத்மஹாதேவேந்த்ர ஸரஸ்வதியென்ற ஸ்ரீசங்கராச்சார்ய ஸ்வாமிகள் அவர்கள் துவாதசாந்த க்ஷேத்திரமாகிய ஹாலாஸ்ய க்ஷேத்திரத்திற்குச் சமீபத்தில் இருக்கிற இளையாத்தங்குடியென்கிற சிரமாபநோதன க்ஷேத்திரத்தில் நிர்விகல்ப ஸமாதியில் இருக்கிறார்கள்.

HOW TO REACH

This Adhistanam is about 16 km from Thirumayam, 28 km from Karaikudi, 30 km from Tiruppatur, and 35 km from Pudukkottai. 

The nearest Railway Station is Thirumayam.

LOCATION OF THE ADHISTANAM: CLICK HERE

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---

Sri Kailasanathar Nithyakalyani Amman Temple / ஸ்ரீ கைலாசநாதர் நித்யகல்யாணி அம்மன் கோயில், Ilayathangudi, Sivaganga District, Tamil Nadu.

The visit to this Sri Kailasanathar Temple at Ilayathangudi, in Sivaganga District, was part of “Shiva, Vishnu and Buddhist Temples Visit in Puducherry, Nagapattinam, Sivagangai, Pudukottai, Thanjavur and Tiruchirappalli Districts”, from 8^th to 10^th April 2026. This is one of the nine Shiva temples and a common temple of Nattukottai Nagarathars.

Moolavar  : Sri Kailasanathar

Consort    : Sri Nithya Kalyani Amman.

Some of the salient features of this temple are….

The temple faces east with a 3-tier Rajagopuram and a Hexagonal mukha mandapam. Balipeedam, Dwajasthambam, and Rishabam are after the Rajagopuram. Dwarapalakas are on either side of the sanctum sanctorum. In the koshtam, Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Lingothbavar, Brahma, and Durgai.

In the inner praharam, Nalvar, Kailasa Vinayagar, Somaskandar, and 4 Veda murthis, Nagars with Ganapati, Vishwanathar with Visalakshi, Subramaniar, Bikshadanar, Sastha, Durgai, Sri Valli Devasena subramaniar, Lakshmi Narayanar, Gajalakshmi, Chandikeswarar, Navagrahas, Thazhuva Kuzhaintha Kamkshi Amman, Chandran, and Suryan.

Ambal Nithya Kalyani Amman is in a separate sannidhi that faces south. Dwarapalakis are on either side of the sanctum sanctorum. Ambal is in a standing posture with abhaya varada hastam.  

 Nandi with his consort

Brahma

 Chandikeswarar

ARCHITECTURE

The temple was constructed with stone from adhistanam to prastaram, and the vimanam above the bhumi desam was built with bricks. The temple consists of the sanctum sanctorum, antarala, and mukha mandapam. The sanctum sanctorum is on an adhistanam with jagathy, three patta kumudam, and pattikai. The bhitti starts with vedikai. The pilasters are of Vishnu kantha pilasters with kalasam, kudam, lotus petals mandi, and pushpa pothyal. The prastaram consists of madhalai, kapotam with nasi kudus, and vyyalavari. The nasi kudus are with various sculptures. The kapota are similar to the kodungai. The vesara vimanam above bhumi desam is with one tala, greevam and vesara sigaram. Stucco images of Shiva, Dakshinamurthy, Maha Vishnu, and Brahma are in the tala and greeva koshtams.

The mandapa pillars in front of Dakshinamurthy are beautifully sculpted. The maha mandapa pillars are with Nayaka/ Chettiar donor sculptures. 

Dakshinamurthy Mandapam

Ceilings are painted with the stories related to Shiva.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

The original temple is believed to have been built during the 12^th to 13^th century Pandya period, and the same was reconstructed in the 20^th century. The Shiva Lingam was unearthed from a field which belongs to the Thanjavur Temple land. The Shiva Lingam was brought here and installed. 

Kanchi mutt Sri Sankaracharya Swamigal stayed in Ilayathagudi and did Jyeshtha Krishna Amavasya pooja on 17^th June 1939, at Kamalalaya Thadagam Okkur Udaiyar Piralaya Oorani (An idol is installed on the banks of Oorani).  

AC Muthia's contribution to this temple

Maha Kumbhabhishekam was conducted on 02^nd May 1985, 30^th May 2004, and 01^st September 2022.

Donor

LEGENDS

As per the legend, the Devas stayed in this place to get peace, fearing the Asuras' torture. Since this place gave peace to the Devas, this place was called "IlaiyaRRangkudi", which has been corrupted to the present name of Ilayathangudi. 

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from regular poojas, special poojas are conducted on pradosham, Maha Shivaratri, Chukla Chaturthi, Sankadahara Chaturthi, Karthikai, etc.

TEMPLE TIMINGS

The temple will be kept open from 06.00 hrs to 12.00 hrs and from 15.30 hrs to 20.00 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS

The manager may be contacted on his mobile number +919788216145 and WhatsApp +919442285845 for further details.

HOW TO REACH

This temple is about 16 km from Thirumayam, 28 km from Karaikudi, 30 km from Tiruppatur, and 35 km from Pudukkati. 

The nearest Railway Station is Thirumayam.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---

Buddhist Temple, புத்தர் கோவில், புஷ்பவனம்/ Pushpavanam, Nagapattinam District, Tamil Nadu.

The visit to this Buddha Temple/idol at Pushpavanam, in Nagapattinam District, was part of “Shiva, Vishnu and Buddhist Temples Visit in Puducherry, Nagapattinam, Sivagangai, Pudukottai, Thanjavur and Tiruchirappalli Districts”, from 8^th to 10^th April 2026. It was a long wish to see this Buddha under a peepal tree, at Pushpavanam, in Nagapattinam District.

DETAILS OF BUDDHA IDOL

The Buddha idol measures 145 cm tall. The Buddha is in an ardha padmasana sitting posture. The Buddha is in meditation with palms facing up (Dharma chakra is on the right palm) and eyes slightly open. Buddha is with elongated earlobes, curled hair, an ushnisa on the top of his head, threefold on the neck, broad chest, and the dress fold on the left shoulder with a beautiful smile on his lips.

As per the historians, this Buddha idol belongs to the 9^th century, Chozha period.

BELIEFS OF THE LOCAL PEOPLE

Locals believe that this idol is a Nattukottai Chettiar and came from above the earth on its own. Locals pray to this idol, considering it a Hindu deity, applying vibhuthi and kungumam. After the wishes are fulfilled, they tonsure their head, lighting brass and mud lamps, burning camphor and Frankincense resin (சாம்பிராணி). Special poojas are done on Buddha Poornima day, Thai Pongal, etc.

Ref:

சோழநாட்டில் பௌத்தம், by முனைவர் பா ஜம்புலிங்கம்.

LOCATION OF THE BUDDHA IDOL: CLICK HERE

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---

Vadakudi Siva Temple - Sri Thirumeni Azhagar Temple/ வடக்குடி சிவ ஆலயம்/ ஶ்ரீ திருமேனி அழகர் ஆலயம், Vadakudi, Nagapattinam District, Tamil Nadu

The visit to this Sri Thirumeni Azhagar Temple at Vadakudi, in Nagapattinam District, was part of “Shiva, Vishnu and Buddhist Temples Visit in Puducherry, Nagapattinam, Sivagangai, Pudukottai, Thanjavur and Tiruchirappalli Districts”, from 8^th to 10^th April 2026. The temple is on the Vettar River mouth, where the river joins the Bay of Bengal.

Moolavar  : Sri Thirumeni Azhagar

Consort    : Sri Soundarya Nayagi

Some of the salient features of this temple are….

The temple faces east with a 3-tier Rajagopuram. The temple tank with a neerali mandapam is in front of the temple. Balipeedam, Dwajasthambam, and Rishabam are after the Rajagopuram. Dwarapalakas are on either side of the sanctum sanctorum. Moolavar is on a round avudaiyar. In koshtam, Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Lingothbavar, Brahma, and Durgai.

In the praharam, 63var, Maha Ganapati, Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniar with Peacock vahana under a kal mandapam, Saraswati, Maha Lakshmi, Murugan, Chandikeswarar, Vayu Lingam, Sapta Rishis, karpaka vruksham, Kamadhenu, Sapta Kannis, Nava Veerars, Saniswaran, Nagars, Nagars (In a single straight line), Bairavar, Suryan, Chandran, and Ayyanar with Poorna Puskala.  

Ambal is in a separate sannidhi that faces south. Dwarapalakis are on either side of the sanctum sanctorum. Ambal is in a standing posture with abhaya varada hastam.

Nandi with his consort

Ayyanar with his consorts

Navagrahas are in a straight line

ARCHITECTURE

The temple was constructed with stone from adhistanam to prastaram and the vimanam above the bhumi desam was built with bricks. The temple consists of the sanctum sanctorum, antarala, and mukha mandapam. The sanctum sanctorum is on an adhistanam with jagathy, three patta kumudam, and pattikai. The bhitti starts with vedikai. The pilasters are of Brahma kantha pilasters with kalasam, kudam, lotus petals mandi, and vettu pothyal. The prastaram consists of plain valapi, kapotam with nasi kudus, and vyyalavari. The dravida vimanam above bhumi desam is with one tala, greevam, and dravida sigaram. Stucco images of Shiva, Dakshinamurthy, Maha Vishnu, and Brahma are in the tala and greeva koshtams.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

The temple may belong to the 16^th to 17^th century, Vijayanagara period. The temple is being maintained privately by Sri Sivaprakasan Chettiar. 

LEGENDS

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from regular poojas, special poojas are conducted on Pradosham, Maha Shivaratri, Theipirai Ashtami, Theipirai Panchami, Vinayagar Chaturthi, Thai Poosam, etc.

TEMPLE TIMINGS

The temple will be kept open from 07.00 hrs to 11.30 hrs and 17.00 hrs to 20.30 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS

HOW TO REACH

The temple at Vadakudi is about 2.5 km from Nagore Railway Station, 10 km from Nagapattinam, and 31 km from Thiruvarur and Karaikal.

The nearest Railway Station is Nagore.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---