VELUDHARAN TEMPLES VISIT

Saturday, 3 October 2026

Sri Dhandayuthapani Temple /Shri Murugan Temple/ ஶ்ரீ தண்டாயுதபாணி கோயில்/ முருகன் கோயில், Kandavarayanpatti, Sivaganga District, Tamil Nadu.

The visit to this Sri Dhandayuthapani Temple at Kandavarayanpatti was part of the “Sivaganga and Pudukkottai Temples and Heritage Sites Visit” on 2^nd and 3^rd September 2026. Kandavarayanpatti and the temple are on the banks of the Manimuthaaru River.

Moolavar: Sri Dhandayuthapani

Some of the salient features of this temple are….

The temple faces east with a metal-coloured sheet mandapam and a 3-tier Rajagopuram. A Vel mandapam with 4 pillars is in the metacolour sheet mandapam. Vinayagar, Murugan, and dwarapalakas are at the entrance of the Sri Chokkalingam Meenakshi Thirumana mandapam. Stucco bas-reliefs of the Meenakshi Sundareswarar marriage and the Sri Devasena-Murugan marriage flank the temple entrance. Dwajasthambam, balipeedam, and Peacock vahana are in front of the sanctum sanctorum.

In the sanctum sanctorum, Murugan as Dhandayuthapani is in a standing posture, holding a stick in the right hand.

In the praharam, Natarajar with Sivakami and Utsavar. The Nachiappa Chettiar’s image, in Anjali hastam, is on the pillar of the mukha mandapam, in front of the sanctum sanctorum.

ARCHITECTURE

The temple was built with black stone from adhistanam to prastaram. The temple consists of the sanctum sanctorum and mukha mandapam. The sanctum sanctorum is on an adhistanam with jagathy, kumudam, and pattikai. The bhitti starts with vedikai. The pilasters are Vishnu kantha pilasters with square bases, kalasam, kudam, lotus petals mandi, palakai, veera kandam, and pushpa pothyal. The prastaram consists of valapi and kapotam. The vimanam over the bhumi desam was built with bricks. A 2-tala Vesara brick vimanam is over the bhumi desam. Stucco images of Murugan’s various forms are on the tala and greeva koshtams.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

The temple was built by The. C. Na. Nachiappa Chettiar, and the first Maha Kumbhabhishekam was conducted on 11^th September 1932. Dharma Seelar The. C. Na. Chokkalingam Chettiar played a main role in the construction of this temple. The temple is being maintained privately by the 4 sons of Thiru Nachiappa Chettiar and their family members on a rotational basis. They are…

தெ.சி.நா.தே. தேனப்ப செட்டியார்

தெ.சி.நா.தே. சின்னக் கருப்பன் செட்டியார்

தெ.சி.நா.சுப. சுப்பிரமணியன் செட்டியார்

தெ.சி.நா.சொ. சொக்கலிங்கம் செட்டியார்.

The 4^th Maha Kumbhabhishekam was conducted on 10^th March 2025.

LEGENDS

This legend is associated with one of the thiruvilayadal of Shiva. In the competition, initiated by Narada, between Vinayagar and Murugan, whoever comes first after circumambulating this universe will get the rare Mango. Murugan immediately started on his vahana, the peacock, to circle the universe. Vinayagar circumambulated Shiva and Parvati, his father and mother, considering them his universe, which was agreed by Shiva and Narada, and got the mango. Disappointed, Murugan left Mount Kailash and stands as Dhandayuthapani, holding a dhantam on the hills and blessing his devotees.

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from regular poojas, special poojas are conducted on Tuesdays, Kiruthigai, Thaipoosam, Sankadahara Chaturthi, Pradosham, etc.

On Thaipoosam days, devotees used to come in large numbers carrying Palkavadi on foot from far-off places. Annadhanam will be served on these days.

TEMPLE TIMINGS

The temple will be kept open from 07.00 hrs to 11.00 hrs and from 17.00 hrs to 20.00 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS

The office may be contacted on the mobile numbers +918973650406, +919488094505, and +917845539775 for further details.

The priest may be contacted on his mobile numbers +919047090344 and +917094574760 for poojas.

HOW TO REACH

The temple at Kandavaranpatti is 14 km from Pillayarpatti, 30 km from Karaikudi, and 50 km from Sivaganga.

The nearest railway station is Karaikudi.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---

Friday, 2 October 2026

Sri Arulmozhinathar Temple / Cholapuram Shri Shiva Temple/ சோழபுரம் சிவன் கோவில், Cholapuram/ Solapuram, Sivaganga District, Tamil Nadu.

The visit to this Sri Arulmozhinathar Swamy Temple at Cholapuram was part of the “Sivaganga and Pudukkottai Temples and Heritage Sites Visit” on 2^nd and 3^rd September 2026.

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Moolavar : Sri Arulmozhinathar Swamy

Consort : Sri Aramvalartha Nayagi

Some of the salient features of this temple are….

The temple faces east with a 5-tier Rajagopuram. Dwajasthambam, balipeedam, and Rishabam are after the Rajagopuram. Vinayagar and Murugan are at the entrance of the ardha mandapam. Dwarapalakas are at the entrance of the sanctum sanctorum. Moolavar is on a round avudaiyar. In the koshtam: Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Lingothbavar, and Brahma.

In the praharam: Maha Ganapati, Somaskandar, Ayyappan, Kasi Viswanathar with Visalakshi, Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniar, Chandikeswarar, Maha Lakshmi, Navagrahas, Natarajar, Bairavar (faces west instead of south), Chandran, Suryan, and Nalvar.

Ambal is in a separate Sannidhi/ temple faces east on the north side of the Shiva temple. Ambal is with two hands and standing in a three-bhanga posture. She holds a lotus flower in the right hand, and the left hand is in dola hastam.

ARCHITECTURE

The temple consists of sanctum sanctorum, antarala, ardha mandapam, and a common maha mandapam. The temple was built of stone from adhistanam to prastaram. The sanctum sanctorum is on an adhistanam with jagathy, silambu kumudam, and pattikai. The bhitti starts with vedikai. The pilasters are Vishnu kantha pilasters with square bases, kalasam, kudam, lotus petals mandi, palakai, veera kandam, and pushpa pothiyal. The prastaram consists of valapi with lotus petals and kapotam with nasi kudus. The 3-tala Vesara vimanam over the bhumi desam was constructed with brick. Stucco images of Shiva, Dakshinamurthy, Maha Vishnu, and Brahma are on the Tala and greeva koshtams.

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HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

Even though Shiva is called in the name of Chozha King Rajaraja, there is no connection with the Chozha Dynasty, and built by them. It is said the temple was built during the 19th – 20th centuries by the Natukottai Nagarathar.

Maha kumbhabhishekam was conducted on 10^th September 1989, and later on 02^nd September 2009.

LEGENDS

This temple’s Ambal Aram Valartha Nayaki is the amsam of Saraswati and is popular for treating speech problem to the Children. Also, devotees pray to excel in studies and pursue higher education.

The Bairavar is special in this temple, since Bairavar faces west. Devotees worship Bairavar on theipirai Ashtami days and Saturdays to get rid of accidents, problems due to enemies, fear of unfortunate deaths, etc.

ஓம் ஹ்ரீம் மஹா பைரவாய நமஹ

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from regular poojas, special poojas are conducted on pradosham, Maha Shivaratri, Ashtami theipirai, etc.

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TEMPLE TIMINGS

The temple will be kept open from 07.00 hrs to 10.00 hrs and from 17.00 hrs to 19.00 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS

The mobile number of the Gurukkal, +91 88258 67953, may be contacted for further details.

HOW TO REACH

The Cholapuram Shiva temple is 8 km from Sivaganga, 35 km from Pillayarpatti, and 50 km from Karaikudi.

The nearest railway station is Sivaganga.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---

Thursday, 1 October 2026

Kannudaya Nayaki Temple / Kannathal Temple/ நாட்டரசன் கோட்டை கண்ணாத்தாள் கோயில், Nattarasankottai, Sivaganga District, Tamil Nadu.

The visit to this Sri Kannudaya Nayaki Temple at Nattarasankottai was part of the “Sivaganga and Pudukkottai Temples and Heritage Sites Visit” on 2^nd and 3^rd September 2026.

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Moolavar: Sri Kannudaya Nayaki

Some of the salient features of this temple are….

The temple faces north with a big temple tank. A Vinayagar temple is on the west side of the mandapam. A massive stone pillared mandapam is in front of the 5-tier Rajagopuram. Two child cradles are in front of the Dwajasthambam. Dwajasthambam, Balipeedam, Vahana Simham, and an Amman in a standing posture facing the main deity, Kannudaiya Amman, are in the mukha mandapam. Two big stucco dwarapalakis in sitting postures are on either side of the entrance to the ardha mandapam. Again, Dwarapalakis in stone are at the entrance of the antarala.

The Kannudaya Nayaki is in a sitting posture like Rajaleelasana with ashta bhujam (8 hands), holding articles like Damaru, Trishul, knife, bell, shield, pasam, bowl/ kapala, etc. She keeps her left leg on the Mahisha / Nisumba and kills with the trishul held in the right hand. Utsavar is in the ardha mandapam.

In the praharam, Vinayagar with Nagars, Veerabhadra and Bairavar.

ARCHITECTURE

A massive stone pillared mandapa with intricately carved simha and Vazhaipoo capitals is in front of the Rajagopuram. The temple consists of sanctum sanctorum, antarala, ardha mandapam, and an open mukha mandapam. The temple was built of stone from adhistanam to prastaram. The sanctum sanctorum is rectangular in shape on an adhistanam with Jagathi, vrudha kumudam, and pattikai. The bhitti starts with vedikai. The pilasters are Vishnu kantha pilasters with kalasam, kudam, lotus petals mandi, palakai, veera kandam, and pushpa pothiyal. The prastaram consists of valapi with madhalai, kapotam with nasi kudus, and vyyalavari. The two-tala brick salakara vimanam is over the bhumi desam.

The sthala purana is painted on the praharam wall.

Moolavar Vimanam

Vinayagar sannidhi

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

It is believed that the original temple belongs to the 12th to 14th century Pandya period, and the present structure belongs to the 18^th century, built by the Nattukkottai Nagarathars. Even though the temple is under the control of the HR & CE Department, effectively managed by the Sivaganga Samasthanam, the hereditary trust.

Maha Kaliaytta Thiruvizha was conducted from 06^th April 2021 to 28^th April 2021.

Maha Kumbhabhishekam was conducted on 23^rd April 2023.

The 1936 inscription on a flat stone in the paraharam records that the stone thirupani of the flooring inside the praharam was done by Nattarasankottai Kazhanivasal Kudiyanmi A. Vi. Meettappa Chettiars’ wife Veerayi Achi.

LEGENDS

As per the sthala purana paintings on the praharam walls, the ladies selling buttermilk from the villages Pirandakulam, Allur, and Panangadi were hit at one place, and all the buttermilk was spilled on the ground. This was brought to the notice of the King. That night, the Goddess came in his dream and told the She is buried under a jackfruit tree.

The next day, the king ordered the excavation of the place mentioned by the Goddess. In the process of excavation, the crowbar of one man hit the eye of the Goddess, and blood oozed out; at the same time, the excavating man also lost his eyesight. When the other man was offered to continue the excavation, the first man said that he could continue the work. The Goddess idol was brought out, and at the same time the eyesight of the excavator was also restored. Hence, the Goddess was named Kannathal.

While the idol was taken northwards by the Yadhavas, they couldn’t move further and kept on the same spot in Nayanmarkulam village. The Goddess directed the Nattukottai Nagarathars to carry out the kaliyattam and sacrifice of 1500 sheep. After the sacrifice, the idol was shifted to Virakandan Urani and kept facing east. To their surprise, the idol was found facing north the next day. The goddess told them to build a temple on the same spot and carry out the poojas by the Uvachar community.

Sri Kannathal alias Kannudaya Nayaki Amman is popular for granting the boon of eyesight and relieving eye-related ailments. To get relief from eye ailments, devotees are requested to purchase “eye malar” made out of metal and deposit it in the Hundi.

Devotees also pray for a child boon. After the childbirth, the child is brought to the temple and circumambulates the main shrine through the silver cradle.

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from regular 5 kala poojas, special poojas are conducted on Fridays, a 10-day Vaikasi Visakam, Muzha Kalliatta Thiruvizha in the month of Aadi, Navaratri in the month of Purattasi, and Thailakappu Utsavam in the month of Thai.

TEMPLE TIMINGS

The temple will be open from 07.00 hrs to 13.30 hrs and from 16.00 hrs to 20.30 hrs on Sunday, Tuesday, and Friday. And from 07.00 hrs to 12.30 hrs and from 16.00 hrs to 20.30 hrs on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday.

CONTACT DETAILS

The temple’s landline numbers +914575234220 and +914575241233 may be contacted for further details.

HOW TO REACH

This place, Nattarasankottai, is about 9 km from Sivaganga, 13 km from Kalayarkoil, 40 km from Devakottai, and 43 km from Karaikudi.

The nearest Railway Station is Sivaganga.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---

Wednesday, 30 September 2026

“Maruthu Pandiyar Manimandapam”, Kalaiyarkoil, Sivaganga District, Tamil Nadu.

The visit to this Maruthu Pandiyar Manimandapam at Kalayarkoil was part of the “Sivaganga and Pudukkottai Temples and Heritage Sites Visit” on 2^nd and 3^rd September 2026.

Maruthu Pandiyar’s parents were Udaiyar Servai alias Mokkai Pazhaniappan Servai and Ponnathal. During the reign of Sivaganga King Muthu Vaduganatha Devar, Veeramangai Nachiar and the minister Thandavarayan praised Maruthu Pandiyar for their valour and prudence. After Kattabomman was hanged at Kayathar, Maruthu brothers helped Kattabomman’s brother Umaidurai to escape from Tirunelveli prison. Due to this, they earned a bad image from the British. The “Proclamation of Jambu Dweepam” was released against the British East India Company on 16^th June 1801. The proclamation states that all Indians should unite together irrespective of caste and creed, against the British East India Company. Those who didn’t support will get the sin of killing a cow on the banks of the Ganga River and were born to despicable parents. For this reason, the British captured the Maruthu brothers, tortured them, and killed them by hanging. Maruthu brothers had done many philanthropic works, like the construction of Kalayar Koil Temple Rajagopuram, renovation of Kundrakudi Temple, excavation of Marungapuri tank, etc.

This memorial Mani Mandapam for the Maruthu brothers was built with the permission of Sivaganga Devasthanam by C N Paramasivan and family on 25^th October 2006.

மாமன்னர் மருதுபாண்டியர்களின் மணிமண்டபம்.

மருது பாண்டியர்களின் பெற்றோர் உடையார் சேர்வை என்ற மொக்கை பழனியப்பன் சேர்வை பொன்னாத்தாள் ஆவர். சீவகங்கை மன்னர் முத்துவடுகநாததேவர் வீரமங்கை வேலு நாச்சியார் அமைச்சர் தாண்டவராயர் பிள்ளை ஆகியோர் காலத்தில் வீரத்திலும் வீவேகத்திலும் மருது சகோதரர்கள் பாராட்டப் பெற்றனர். பாஞ்சாலங்குறிச்சி கட்டபொம்மன் கயத்தாறில் ஆங்கிலேயரால் தூக்கிலிடப்பட்டார். மருது பாண்டியர்கள் வீரசங்கம் என்ற அமைப்பின் மூலம் கட்டபொம்மன் தம்பி ஊமைத்துரையை திருநெல்வேலி சிறையில் இருந்து தப்பிக்கச் செய்ததால் ஆங்கிலேயரீன் 'எதிர்ப்பை உருவாக்கிக் கொண்டனர் 16.6.1801-ல் ஐம்புதீப பிரகடனம் "இந்தியர் அனைவரும் ஒன்றுகூடி ஜாதி மத வேறுபாடுகளை மறந்து வெள்ளையர்களுக்கு எதிராக புரட்சி செய்ய வேண்டும் வெள்ளையர்களை ஆதரிப்பவர்கள் கங்கை கரையில் காராம் பசுவை கொன்ற பாவத்தை அடைவார்கள். ஆங்கிலேயர்களை ஆதரிப்பவர்கள் இழிந்தவர்களுக்கு பிறந்த மைந்தர்கள், துரோகிகளுக்கு பிறந்த பிள்ளைகள்" என்று இந்தியாவில் முதல் சுதந்திர பிரகடனத்தை வெளியிட்டனர். 24-10-1804-ல் மருது பாண்டியர்கள் ஆங்கிலேயர்களால் தூக்கிலிடப்பட்டனர். மாமன்னர் மருது பாண்டியர்கள் காளையார் கோவிலில் இராஜகோபுரம் உருவாக்கியது, குன்றக்குடியில் மலைக்கோவில் புதுப்பித்தது, மருங்காபுரி என்ற தெப்பக்குளம் கட்டியது, திருமோகூர் கோவில் மண்டபம் எழுப்பியது போன்ற திருப்பணிகளை இறைப்பணியாகச் செய்தது மக்கள் மனதில் என்று நின்று பெருமை பெறுகின்றனர்.

சிவகங்கை தேவஸ்தான அனுமதியுடன் மாமன்னர் மருது பாண்டியர்களுக்கு மணி மண்டபம் கோவை C.N.பரமசிவன் மற்றும் குடும்பத்தினரால் விய ஆண்டு ஐப்பசி மாதம் 8ஆம் நாள் 25-10-2006 ஆம் நாளில் உருவாக்கப்பட்டது.

Sri Muthu Vaduganatha Periya Udayadevar, with Maruthu Pandyar History from military records. He was killed in the Kalaiyar Koil war against the British. He ruled Sivaganga from 1750 – 1772 CE. He was the first person who raised his voice for Indian independence. He was killed on 25^th June 1972 by a hand grenade thrown at him. Along with him were his second wife, Kanni Rani Gauri Nachiyar, Minister Thalavai Thandavaraya Pillai, and Captains Maruthu brothers.

சிவகங்கை சமஸ்தானம் தேவஸ்தானம் காளையார் கோவில் போரில் வீரமரணம் எய்திய மன்னர் முத்துவடுகநாத பெரிய உடையத் தேவர்.

சிவகங்கை சீமையின் இரண்டானது மன்னர் மாவீர முத்துவடுகநாத பெரிய உடையத் தேவர். இவர் 1750 முதல் 1772 வரை இருபத்திரண்டு ஆண்டுகள் ஆட்சி புரிந்தார். இந்திய மண்ணில் இவரே வெள்ளையர்களை எதிர்த்து முதல் சுதந்திர முழக்கம் செய்தவர். காளையார் கோவிலில் கடும் போரில் வெள்ளையர்கள் மறைந்து நின்று கை ஏறி குண்டுகளை வீசிய போது 25.06.1772 ல் வீரமரணம் அடைந்தார். இவருடன் போரில் உயிர் துறந்த காளையார் கோவிலைச் சேர்ந்த இரண்டாவது மனைவி கன்னி ராணி கௌரி நாச்சியார் ஆவார். அமைச்சர் தளவாய் தாண்டவராய பிள்ளை. தளபதிகள் மாவீரர்கள் மருது பாண்டிய சகோதரர்கள். மகா சிவபக்தராக திகழ்ந்த வீரர் முத்துவடுகநாத பெரிய உடையாத்தேவரின் சிலை தான் இது.