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.

PC: website

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 and kills with the trishul held in two hands. 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 ---

“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.

முத்துவடுகநாத பெரிய உடையாத்தேவர்

Chinna Marudhu  

Periya Marudhu  

Kizhavan Sethupathi

HOW TO REACH

The Marudhu brothers’ memorial is about 1 km from Kalayarkoil Temple, 35 km from Devakottai, 18 km from Sivaganga, and 38 km from Karaikudi.

The nearest railway station is Sivaganga.

LOCATION OF THE MANI MANDAPAN: CLICK HERE

 Rajagopuram of Kalayar Koil is visible faintly (Photo taken on a rainy day)

Maruthu Pandiyar’s mother Ponnathal samadhi on the right (A small peedam-like samadhi)

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---

Arulmigu Sri Agastheeswarar Temple/ அருள்மிகு நைனார் கோவில், கோட்டூர் நைனார்வயல்/ Kottur Nainarvayal, Sivaganga District, Tamil Nadu.

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

Moolavar  : Sri Agastheeswarar

Consort    : Sri Soundaranayaki

Some of the salient features of this temple are….

The temple faces east with a 5-tier Rajagopuram. The temple tank – Meenakshi Achi Thirukulam with neerazhi mandapam - is in front of the temple. Vinayagar and Murugan sannidhis are on either side of the entrance to the Rajagopuram. A two-tier Rajagopuram is on the south side, which is kept locked.

Kambathadi Vinayagar, Dwajasthambam, balipeedam, and two Rishabams are in the mukha mandapam. Moolavar is Swayambhu on a round avudaiyar. Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy with Nagars on both sides, Lingothbavar, and Brahma are in the koshtams.

In the praharam: Maha Kala Karuppar, Vinayagar, Gajalakshmi, Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniar, Chandikeswarar, Bairavar, Navagrahas, and Chandran.

Ambal is in a separate sannidhi in the Maha mandapam/ open maha mandapam. Ambal is in a three-bhanga standing posture with two hands, holds a lotus flower in the right hand, and the left hand is in dola hastam.

Maha Kala Karuppar is in a separate Sannidhi.  A highly decorated image and a square peedam on the right side are believed to be Maha Kala Karuppar. Thiruvasi with aruva/ long sickle flag and Vel are behind the image. Aruvas / long sickles and Thandams are kept in front of Karuppar’s image. 

Maha Kala Karuppar

Bells are tied after the wishes are fulfilled

ARCHITECTURE

The temple was constructed with stone from adhistanam to prastaram. The temple consists of sanctum sanctorum, antarala, ardha mandapam, and open mukha madapam/ maha mandapam. The sanctum sanctorum is on an adhistanam with Jagathi three patta kumudam and kapotam with nasi kudus. 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 lotus petals, kapotam with nasi kudus, and vyyalavari. The two tala vesara vimanam over the bhumi desam were constructed with brick. Stucco images of Shiva, Dakshinamurthy, Maha Vishnu, and Brahma are on the tala and greeva koshtams. Maha nasis are on the cardinal directions on the sigaram.

South side Rajagopuram

The mandapam pillars around the Rishabam and Dwajasthambam have sculptures like Oorthuva Thandavar, Mahishamardini, Veerabhadra, etc. The pillars also have the sculptures of Nattukottai Nagarathars, who contributed to the construction/ thirupani to this temple.

Two Rishabas

Oorthuva Thandavar - Mahishamardini - Veerabhadra

Two oil lamp thiruvasi with inscriptions are in front of the ardha mandapam entrance and Ambal Sannidhi.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

It is said the original temple belongs to the 12^th to 13^th century Pandya period. But there is no evidence available to prove the same. The present structure was built by Nattukottai Nagarathars in the 19th – 20^th centuries.

Maha Kumbhabhishekam was conducted in 1920, 1950, on 10^th July 1987, and 15^th September 2005.

The oil Lamp Thiruvasi in front of the main temple was gifted by the Nattukottai Nagarathars, and the Thiruvasi in front of the Ambal temple was gifted by the Nattars.

Thiruvasi gifted by Nagarathars

Thiruvasi gifted by Nattars

The thirukulam in front of the temple excavation, Thirupani, was done by Meenakshi Achi, hence called “Meenakshi Achi Thirukulam”. The thirukulam renovation was done on 12^th November 2010.

LEGENDS

It is believed that the Shiva Linga was installed and worshipped by Agastheeswarar. As per the legend, during the celestial wedding of Shiva with Parvati, all the Gods, Devas, Maharishis, and Sages gathered at Mount Kailash. Due to this, the north side of the Earth lowered, and the south side went up. To balance the earth, Lord Shiva asked Agasthiyar to go south. From Mount Kailash towards Podhigai Hill, Agasthiyar established many Shiva Lingas and worshipped. It is believed that this temple is also one of them.

Maha Kala Karuppar is a powerful guardian deity (Kaaval Deivam) os Kottur Nainarvayal. The locals worship it first before starting any auspicious functions.

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from regular poojas, special poojas are conducted on pradosham and Maha Shivaratri,

TEMPLE TIMINGS

The temple will be kept open from 07.00 hrs to 11.30 hrs and from 16.00 hrs to 20.00 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS

The Gurukkal is residing on the south side of the Meenakshi Achi Thirukulam. The temple will be open only during temple timings.

HOW TO REACH

The Agastheeswarar temple at Kottur Nainarvayal is about 19.3 km from Devakottai, 26 km from Kalayarkoil, and 42 km from Sivaganga.

The nearest Railway Station is Devakottai.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

Dwarapalakas are on either side of the Rajagopuram

 These images are on the back side of Ambal sannidhi

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---