Sri Kailasanathar Temple / அருள்மிகு கைலாசநாதர் திருக்கோயில் ( Puthan Sthalam ) Nava Kailaiyam 7, Thenthiruperai, Thoothukudi District, Tamil Nadu.

This Kailasanathar temple at Thenthiruperai is on the banks of the Holy river Thamirabarani, 7^th temple of Nava Kailayam and also one of the Navagraha sthalam ie, Puthan parikara sthalam.

Moolavar   : Sri Kailasanathar

Consort     : Sri Azhagiya Ponnammal, Sri Ponnammai

Some of the salient features of this temple are….

The temple faces east, with an entrance mandapam on the south side. A Pandya-period Stone pillar with an inscription is installed at the entrance of the mandapam. A stucco image of Shiva and Parvati is on the top of the entrance mandapam. Ambal Temple is immediately after the Entrance mandapam. Next is the Shiva’s temple. Balipeedam, Dwajasthambam, and Rishabam are in front of the sanctum Sanctorum under the mukha mandapam. Dwarapalakas are at the entrance of Sanctum sanctorum. Moolavar is on a Square avudayar. Dakshinamurthy is separately installed later.

In praharam, Vinayagar, Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniar, Nagars, Chandikeswarar, Bairavar and Navagrahas.

ARCHITECTURE

Ambal temple is immediately after the south side entrance. Ambal is in a separate temple on the right side of the moolavar. The temple consists of sanctum sanctorum, antarala, and ardha mandapam. The sanctum sanctorum is on an adhistanam with Padma jagathy, Vrudha kumudam, and kapotam. The Bhitti starts with vedikai. The pilasters are of Vrudha pilasters with malai thongal, kalasam, kudam, lotus petals mandi, palakai, and poomottu pothyal. The prastaram consists of valapi, kapotam and Viyyalavari. A one tala salakara brick vimanam is on the Bhumidesam.

Shiva temple consists of Sanctum sanctorum, antarala, ardha mandapam and a mukha mandapam. The sanctum sanctorum is on a padabandha adhistanam with jagathy, muppattai kumudam and pattikai. The bhitti starts with vedikai. The pilasters are of brahmakantha pilasters with kalasam, kudam, a plain mandi, palakai and Tharanga pothyal. The prastaram consists of valapi with madhalai, kapotam with nasi kudus, and plain Bhoomidesam without viyyalavari. One tala brick Vimanam is on the Bhoomidesam. Shiva, Dakshinamurthy, Maha Vishnu, and Brahma are in the Tala and greeva koshtams, the Vimanam is of vesara style.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

It is believed that the original temple belonged to the Pandya period and received contributions from Chozhas and Vijayanagaras. A Pandya-period Stone pillar with inscriptions is installed at the entrance of the mandapam. Fragment inscriptions are found on the front mandapam wall.

A fragment of Maravarman Sundara Pandiyan's inscription on the wall, records the name of this place was called as Sundara Pandya Chaturvedi Mangalam. It records some gifts given to this temple. 

Inauguration of formal thirupani work was started on 16^th February 1957 and Maha Kumbhabhishekam was conducted on 07^th July 1958.

LEGENDS

As per the legend, The Agasthiyar’s first disciple Uroma Maharishi, expressed his wish to worshipping Shiva and attain mukti. Agasthiyar advised Uroma Maharishi to drop 9 lotus flowers in the flow of the Holy River Thamirabarani. Worship and do penance on Shiva, where the flowers reach the shore. Uroma Maharishi also did, as advised by his Guru Agasthiyar, and attained Mukti. These 9 Shiva temples are called Nava Kailayam.

3 Kombu/horns Coconut is kept in a glass enclosure at Ambal temple Mukha Mandapam. There is a legend behind this. As per the legend, during the British period, Captain Durai came to this Village and camped at the Coconut farm. He asked his servant to get some Coconut from the farm to drink. The watchman of the Coconut farm refused to give and said that the coconuts were meant only for Shiva. Angered the British Captain shouted at the watchman, asking whether the coconut had three Kombus / horns, and ordered them to give the Coconut. Fearing the Watchman, from the punishment, climbed up the tree, plucked a coconut, and dropped. To the captain’s surprise, the Coconut had 3 horns. On seeing this the Captain rushed to the sanctum sanctorum and prayed to Shiva to forgive him. Now the Coconut is kept in a glass enclosure, and one of the horns is found in broken condition due to age.

Three horn coconut

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from regular poojas, special poojas are conducted on pradosam, maha Shivaratri, Adipooram, Annabhishekam in Aippasi, Karthigai deepam, Margazhi Thiruvathirai etc,.

TEMPLE TIMINGS

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

CONTACT DETAILS

Executive Officer,

Ponnammai Sametha Kailasanathar Temple,

Thenthiruperai, Tiruchendur Taluk,

Thoothukudi – 628 621

Sivakaminathan Gurukal +91 97883 64793, may be contacted or poojas and other details.

 

HOW TO REACH

This Shiva temple is about 600 meters from Makara Nedunkuzhaikathar Temple, one of the 108 Divya Desam, Thenthiruperai, 11 km from Srivaikuntam, 21 km from Thiruchendur, 41 km from Thoothukudi and Tiruchendur Thiruchendur.  

The nearest Railway Station is Srivaikuntam.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---