Annappanpettai Sri Sundreswarar Temple / Sundareswarar Temple / சுந்தரேஸ்வரர் கோவில், ( Thiru Kalikkamoor -திருக் கலிக்காமூர் ), Thennampattinam, Mangaimadam (SO), Mayiladuthurai District, Tamil Nadu.

This is the 62^nd Devara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam and the 8^th sthalam on the north side of river Kaveri. This place was called Kalikamoor during the 7^th Century and is now called Annappanpetai. 

As per Sekkizhar, Thirugnanasambandar came to this temple after worshiping Lord Shiva of Mahendrapalli during his third pilgrimage. 

வைகும் அந்நாளில் கீழ்பால் மயேந்திரப் பள்ளி வாசம்

செய்பொழில் குருகாவூரும் திருமுல்லைவாயில் உள்ளிட்டு

எய்திய பதிகள் எல்லாம் இன்புற இறைஞ்சி ஏத்தித்

தையலாஸ் பாகர் தம்மைப் பாடினார் தமிழ்ச்சொல் மாலை

Thirugnanasambandar and Vallalar have sung hymns in praise of Lord Shiva of this temple.

மடல்வரை யின்மது விம்முசோலை வயல்சூழ்ந்து அழகாரும்

கடல்வரை யோதம் கலந்து முத்தம் சொரியும் கலிக்காமூர்

உடல்வரை இன்னுயிர் வாழ்க்கை யாய ஒருவன் கழலேத்த

இடர்தொட ராவினை யானசிந்தும் இறைவன் அருளாமே

............ திருஞனசம்பந்தர்

                                                       -“மேய

பலிக்காவூர் தோறும் பதஞ்சேப்பச் சென்று

கலிக்காமூர் மேவுங் கரும்பே”

....... திரு அருட்பா

Moolavar  : Sri Sundareswarar

Consort    : Sri Sundarambal, Sri Azhagammai.

Some of the features of this temple are...

The temple faces east with an entrance arch or mottai gopuram. Balipeedam and Rishabam are before the sanctum sanctorum. The stucco image of Rishabaroodar is above the entrance of the sanctum sanctorum. Moolavar is, Swayambhu, little, short on a square avudayar with a silver nagaraparanam. In koshtam Dakshinamurthy and Durgai.

In prakarm sannadhi for Selva siddhi Vinayagar, Lord Muruga with Valli Devasena, Vilvanathar, Akilandeswari, Mahalakshmi, Saneeswarar, Vinayagar, Kailasanathar, Parasarar and Bhadrakali, Ambal is in a separate sannadhi on the right side of the moolavar. In Navagrahas sannadhi all are in standing posture.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

Since Thirugnanasambandar has sung hymns on this temple, the temple might have existed before the 7^th Century, reconstructed during Chozhas, Marathas, etc,. The Vavval Nethi Mandapam was constructed during Maratha’s period.

The temple was renovated and Kumbhabhishekam was conducted in 1954,  Construction of Sri Sastha sannadhi and Maha kumbhabhishekam was constructed in 1965, and the renovation of Mahamariamman temple and ashta bandhana Kumbabishekam was conducted in 1978 and 4^th time on 1996 by T S Duraisamy Ayyar. Recently 2017 Maha kumbhabhishekam was conducted.

LEGENDS

As per the Legend, the Ambal idol was caught in a fisherman’s net. With severe pain in the stomach, he brought the idol to the temple and miraculously his stomach pain disappeared. Ambal was installed in the temple. Remembering this even during the Masi maham festival only Ambal will be taken to sea for theerthavari.

Since Lord Shiva removes all hardships due to kali, the place is called Kalikamoor. It is believed that Parasara Munivar worshiped Lord Shiva of this temple.

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from regular poojas, special poojas are conducted on Pradosham, Maha Shivaratri, Lord Shiva of this temple will also join with Then Thirumullaivayil for Theerthavari on Masi Maham day, Special abhishekam for Ambal on Aadi and Thai month Fridays and Laksharchana during Navratri.

TEMPLE TIMINGS

The temple will be kept open between 08.00 hrs to 10.00 hrs and 17.00 hrs and 19.30 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS

The Mobile numbers +91 93605 77673 and +91 97879 29799 may be contacted for further details.

The Gurukkal N.Rajamani may be contacted on his mobile + 91 97151 70451, for further details.

HOW TO REACH :

On the bus route from Thiruvenkadu to Sirkazhi, get down at Mangaimadam, and from there take the road to Thirunagar and on the way to Konayampattinam.

The town bus from Sirkazhi to Konayampattinam bus runs via Annappan Pettai.

The temple is 5 KM from Then Thirumullaivasal on the southwest, 5 KM from Thiruvenkadu on the northwest 6 KM from Sayavanam, 15 KM from Sirkazhi, 32 KM from Mayiladuthurai, 37 KM from Chidambaram, 43 KM from Karaikal, 68 KM from Nagapattinam and  272 KM from Chennai.

Nearest Railway Station is Sirkazhi.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---