Shri Esakki Amman Temple/ ஶ்ரீ இசக்கி அம்மன் கோயில்/ Avvaiyaramman Temple, Muppandal /முப்பந்தல், Aralvaimozhi, Kanyakumari District, Tamil Nadu.

The visit to this Sri Esakki Amman Temple and Avvaiyaramman Temple at Muppandal near Nagercoil was a part of the “Nanjil Nadu Heritage Walk”, organized by the Tamil Nadu Tourism Department and the தொண்டை மண்டல வரலாற்று ஆய்வு சங்கம் “திருக்கச்சி” from 16^th to 18^th May 2025. I extend my sincere thanks to Mr. Velu Pillai and Mrs. Radha Balan Ruth for organizing this Heritage Walk.

Esakki, an ordinary woman, who turned to a guarding deity, with the blessings of Shiva, Parvati, and the Sangam poet Avvaiyar.

Moolavar  : Shri Esakki Amman

Some of the salient features of this temple are…..

This Muppandal has Shri Esakki Amman Temple, a big-size Stucco image of Esakki Amman open to the sky, and Avvaiyaramman temple with 3 mandapas.

The Esakki Amman temple faces north with a 3-tier Rajagopuram. Balipeedam is in front of the Rajagopuram. Dwarapalakis are at the entrance of sanctum sanctorum and Esakki Amman is in a sitting posture holding Trishul and kapala. In koshtam Prithyangira Devi, Vishnu Durgai and Vaishnavi.

In praharam Valampuri Vinayagar, Avvaiyar Amman, Bala Murugan, Sudalai madan and Pattavaraiyan. Neelan (believed as the brother of Esakki Amman) is in a separate sannidhi and devotees believed that Neelan was the incarnation of Maha Vishnu. 

The stucco image of Esakki Amman is on the right side of the temple. The image is about 25 feet high.

PC website

AVVAIYARAMMAN TEMPLE WITH MANDAPAS

A small sannidhi of Avvaiyar Amman is on the premises of the Esakki Amman Temple. In addition to this sannidhi, there is a separate temple dedicated to Avvaiyar Amman. This temple is about 100 meters from Esakki Amman Temple. This temple faces east. The Avvaiyar Amman is also in a sitting posture. The sanctum sanctorum is with a vimanam.

There are two mandapas (originally 3 mandapas) near this temple. It is believed that these mandapas/pandals are meant for the three Kings, Chera, Chozha, and Pandya Kings from there they meet Avvaiyar, the Sangam period poet and she removed the differences between them. Hence this place is called Muppandal.  

AVVAIYARAMMAN

ARCHITECTURE

The whole temple was constructed with brick and cement concrete. The temple consists of a sanctum sanctorum and an open mukha mandapam. The sanctum sanctorum is on a pada bandha adhistanam with jagathy, threepatta kumudam, and pattikai. The bhitti starts with vedikai. The pilasters are Brahma kantha pilasters. The prastaram consists of valapi and kapotam. A 2 tier vesara vimanam is on the bhumi desam.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

It is believed that the original temple is 500 years old. The present structure may be constructed in the 20^th century.

LEGENDS

As per the legend, Esakki was the daughter of a wealthy woman of Palavoor. A young man wanted to get all the wealth. So he acted like a lover to Esakki and asked her to come along with her mother’s Jewells and the money to go somewhere and marry her. Believing the young man’s words, Esakki, went along with him. In the middle of the forest, the young man took all her Jewells and killed her, by dropping a stone on her head. On the way, the young man also died due to a snake bite. When both of them reached the celestial abode of Shiva, Esakki requested Shiva for a boon of killing the Young man by her own hand. Shiva granted her the boon and gave life to the Young man also. They took rebirth at Palavoor.

Esakki converts the cactus into a child goes to the Young man’s house and is told that he is the father of the Child. When he denied it, the case came to the Village Sabha. There also the young man said the same. Esakki let the child towards him. The Child went to the Young man and called him the father. The Sabha decided to lock both of them in a room, to settle between themselves. Waiting for this chance, Esakki, killed the young man with her own hands. With the anger not reduced, Esakki came to Muppandal. On seeing Esakki, Avvaiyar consoled her, made calm, and advised her to stay at this place as a guarding deity of Muppandal. Ma Parvati also blessed her as the guarding deity of Muppandal. 

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from regular poojas, special poojas are conducted on Tuesdays, Fridays, and Sundays, Thai month pournami /full moon day, and annual celebrations will be held in Adi month. Annadhanam is served daily.  

Offered by the Devotees

TEMPLE TIMINGS

The temple will be kept open from 06.30 hrs to 12.30 hrs and from 16.00 hrs to 20.00 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS

The mobile number +960 744-0284 may be contacted for further details.

FB:  https://www.facebook.com/muppanthalmahashakthi/

HOW TO REACH

The temple at Muppandal is on the side of the State Highway, from Tirunelveli to Nagercoil.

Muppandal is 18.5 km from Nagercoil, and 28 km from Kanyakumari.

The nearest Railway Station is Nagercoil.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

Durga

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA---

Sri Parakodi Kandan Sastha Temple/ஆரல்வாய்மொழி பரகோடி கண்டன் சாஸ்தா கோவில்/ Meenakshi Amman Temple / மீனாட்சி அம்மன் கோவில், Vadakoor, Aralvaimozhi, Kanyakumari District, Tamil Nadu.

The visit to this Sri Parakodi Kandan Sastha Temple/ Meenakshi Amman Temple at Vadakoor, Aralvaimozhi near Nagercoil, was a part of the “Nanjil Nadu Heritage Walk”, organized by the Tamil Nadu Tourism Department and the தொண்டை மண்டல வரலாற்று ஆய்வு சங்கம் “திருக்கச்சி” from 16^th to 18^th May 2025. I extend my sincere thanks to Mr. Velu Pillai and Mrs. Radha Balan Ruth for organizing this Heritage Walk.

This temple is dedicated to Sri Parakodi Kandan Sastha and the rest of the sannidhis are parivara sannidhis, which include Shiva and Ambal sannidhis.

Moolavar  : Sri Parakodi Kandan Sastha

Consort    : Sri Poorna and Puskala

Some of the salient features of this temple are…..

The Rajagopuram is of 3-tiers with stucco images of Meenakshi Sundareswarar as Rishabaroodar, Sastha, Maha Vishnu, Vinayagar, and Murugan. The temple consists of Sastha sannidhi and Shiva sannidhi. The temple faces east with Elephant vahana, balipeedam and Dwajasthambam, are in the mukha mandapam. Sastha is with his consorts Poorna and Puskala.

Parakodi Kandan Sastha Utsavar

Elephant vahana of Parakodi Kandan Sastha Temple

SHIVA’S SANNIDHI

Moolavar  : Sri Sundareswarar

Consort    : Sri Meenakshi

Some of the salient features of this temple are…..

The Shiva’s sannidhi is on the north side of the Sastha temple. Rishabam is in front of the sannidhi. Ambal is in a separate sannidhi facing south.

Chidambareswarar, Arumuga Nayinar, Kanni Moola Vinayagar, Sundareswarar & Meenakshi Amman Utsavars, Sastha Utsavar with his concerts, Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniar, Nagarajar,  Kizhakku Vasal Bhoothathar, Saniswarar, Bairavar, Navagrahas,  Merku vassal Bhoothathar, Kasi Viswanathar, Dakshinamurthy, Chandikeswarar, and Appar.

Vinayagar and Ayyappan are in the outer praharam.

Dakshinamurthy

Ambal Meenakshi

Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniar

The entrance opposite to Ambal Meenakshi's sannidhi

ARCHITECTURE

All the temples are constructed with stone from adhistanam to prastaram. The vimanam above the prastaram was built with bricks. A 3 tier Vimanam is on Sastha temple, 2 tier Vimanam is on Shiva’s Temple and a salakara Vimanam is on Ambal Sri Meenakshi temple.

The mandapam after Rajagopuram was built during Sree Chithira Thirunal, Maharaja of Travancore period. His image is on one of the Mandapam pillars.

A Shiva lingam in the makara torana

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

It is believed that the temple sanctum sanctorum was built during the Pandya period, the inner praharam was built during Nayaka’s period, and the mandapam after the Rajagopuram was built by the kings of Travancore Samasthanam.

Maha Kumbhabhishakam was conducted on 2^nd February 1996, and 14^th September 2009.

மீனாட்சியம்மன் கோயில், முதல் பிரகார வடகிழக்கு மூலையில் உள்ள நான்குபுறமும் வெட்டப்பட தனிக்கல்லில் உள்ள கல்வெட்டு நாஞ்சி நாட்டைச் சேர்ந்த சாலியர், கைக்கோளர், ஈழவர் முதலான குடிகள் ஆரவாய்மொழியில் வந்து குடியேறும்படி கட்டளையிடப்பட்டதைப் பதிவு செய்கின்றது.

The 4 sides inscribed inscription stone installed at Meenakshi Amman temple, northeast corner of the first praharam records the order to the Saliyar, Kaikolar, and Ezhavar to shift Aralvaimozhi  

Ref:

கன்யாகுமரிக் கல்வெட்டுகள் ஐந்தாம் தொகுதி (தோவாளை)

LEGENDS

Parakodi Kandan Shasta was the Kula Deivam of the Thondaiman Paravar community. As per the Historians deity, Kandan later became Shasta. The Kandan Sastha was installed and worshiped, where blood was oozed out from a rock.

In another legend during the invasion of Malik Kapoor, the commander of the Delhi Sultan Alauddin Khilji in 1311, the Meenakshi and Sundareswarar from Madurai, were brought to Venadu.  The Travancore historical notes state that Meenakshi Amman was in Aralvaymozhi till 1368 CE.

Madurai Meenakshi appeared in the dream of Vijayanagara Emperor Kumarakampana Nayakkar's wife Gangamma Devi and told her to reinstate the Madurai temple. Kumarakampana Nayakkar's army defeated Sikander Shah, the ruler of Madurai. Madurai Meenakshi and Sundareswarar were reinstated to Madurai after the Madurai temple was restored. The event is mentioned in Gangamma Devi's book Maduravijayam. But there is no other record available to prove that Meenakshi and Sundareswarar were brought to this temple from Madurai. 

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from regular poojas, special poojas are conducted on 10 days of Panguni Uthira festivals, and 4-day thirukalyana utsavam. 

During Panguni Uthira Thiruvizha (Thamburan Vilaiyattu), Sastha also known as Thamburan will be taken in procession on horse vahana, which will rotate at a high speed. It will be one of the colorful festivals conducted in this temple every year.

TEMPLE TIMINGS

The temple will be kept open from 05.00 hrs to 11.00 hrs and from 17.00 hrs to 20.30 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS

HOW TO REACH

The Parakodi Kandan Sastha Temple is on the west side of the Aralvaimozhi Village.

The Parakodi Kandan Sastha Temple is about 500 meters from Aralvaimozhi, 2 km from Aralvaimozhi Railway Station, 16 km from Nagercoil, and 32 km from kanyakumari.

The nearest Railway Station is Aralvaimozhi.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

Pathi Vilakku

The Travancore King

Donors

donors

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA---

Thiruvavaduthurai Atheenam/ திருவாவடுதுறை ஆதீனம், Agaligai Uttru, Vadakor, Aralvaimozhy, Kanyakumari District, Tamil Nadu.

The visit to this Sri Thiruvaduthurai Adheenam and Agaligai Uttru at Vadakor, Aralvaimozhy near Nagercoil, was a part of the “Nanjil Nadu Heritage Walk”, organized by the Tamil Nadu Tourism Department and the தொண்டை மண்டல வரலாற்று ஆய்வு சங்கம் "திருக்கச்சி" from 16^th to 18^th May 2025. I extend my sincere thanks to Mr. Velu Pillai and Mrs. Radha Balan Ruth for organizing this Heritage Walk.

The Aralvaimozhy Thiruvavaduthurai Atheenam, Agaligai Uttru Mutt, is one of the six mutts established in Nanjil Nadu by Thiruvaduthurai Adheenam. The rest are at Thazhakudi, Therur, Parakkai, Suchindram, and Bhemanagari. The primary aim of establishing the mutt was to spread the Saiva Siddhantham and the Tamil language.

The Thiruvavaduthurai Atheenam mutt was on the west and north of the Tank. The tank is with steps on all 4 sides and the sannidhis are on the banks. A well is at the center of the tank. The sannidhis of Adhi Muthanantha Swamy, Agasthiyar, Kanni Nalla Vinayagar, Sabha Nayagar (Natarajar), Bala Subramaniar, Natarajar, Dakshinamurthy, and Vinayagar is on the banks of the tank.

Adhi Muthanantha Swamy

Adhi Muthanantha Swamy's miniature stucco image on the top of the sannidhi, near the kalasa

Agasthiyar

Sabha Nayagar (Natarajar)

Dakshinamurthy 

 Nayagar Natarajar with Sivakami

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

The Sannidhis on the banks of the tank might have been constructed during the 15^th to 16^th Century CE, Nayakas periods.

One of the Agaligai Uttru inscriptions mentions the year as Kollam 872 (1697 CE). The inscription records the endowment. From this inscription, it is concluded that Agaligai Uttru Mutt was established 70 years after Suchindram Mutt. 

One of the inscriptions in Tamil reads as…

திருவாவடுதுறை ஆதினம் - அகலிகையூற்று மடம்

கன்னிநல்ல விநாயகர் திருவருளால், கொல்லம் 872 மாண்டுள்ள தன்ம தானக்கல் வெட்டில் கண்ட உடையவனடியான் ஞானியாரின் வழித்தோன்றலாய் பிறக்கப் பேறுபெற்று 1115 மாண்டு தொடங்கி 1132 மாண்டு ஈறாக சுற்றுமண்டபங்கள் சுற்றுபுறமதில்கள் முதலியன அமைத்து திருக்குளம் செம்மைப்படுத்தி நந்தவனமிட்டு பல திருப்பணிகள் நடத்தி ஆதீனம் 21-வது குருமகா சன்னிதானம் ஸ்ரீலஸ்ரீ சுப்பிரமணிய தேசிக பரம்மாச்சாரிய சுவாமிகள் திருப்பாதப்பொற் கமலங்களில் சமற்பிக்கின்ற, சிவநெறித்தொண்டர்  

ந. அகஸ்திலிங்கம் பிள்ளை. 

மகாபிஷேகம்    28.8.1957 /12.1.1133,

The above inscription records the renovation of Thirukulam, Compound walls, creating a Nandhavanam and mahabhishekam was conducted on 28^th August 1957.

தனிக் கல்வெட்டு….. வேணாடு அரசர் இரவிவர்மரான சிறைவாய் மூத்த தம்பிரான் ஆட்சியில், சக ஆண்டு 1618, கொல்லம் 872 & பொயு 1696 ஆம் ஆண்டு அகலிகை ஊற்றில் உள்ள தனிசதுரகல்லின் நான்கு புறமும் வெட்டப்பட்ட கல்வெட்டு ஆரல்வாய்மொழியைச் சேர்ந்த நல்லகுடி ஆண்டார் என்பார் அகலிகை யூற்றங் கரையில் தம் மாமனார் உடையவனடியாள் ஞானியார் அவர்களால் கட்டி வைக்கப்பெற்ற மடத்துக்கு நிலம் அளித்ததைக் குறிக்கிறது. 

The Venadu King Ravivarman alias Siraivai Mootha Thambran period Saha 1618, Kollam 872 and 1696 CE reign year inscription records the donation of land to the Agalikaiyutru Muttt by the Nallakudi Andar. The mutt was built by Nallakudi Andar’s father-in-law’s wife Gnanaiyar.   

Ref:

கன்யாகுமரிக் கல்வெட்டுகள் ஐந்தாம் தொகுதி (தோவாளை)

Kumari kalvettukal Voume 3 and 6

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from 2 kala regular poojas special poojas are conducted on all the Saiva religion festivals.

TEMPLE TIMINGS

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

CONTACT DETAILS

HOW TO REACH

The Thiruvavaduthurai Adheenam Agaligai Uttru Mutt is on the west side of the Aralvaimozhi Village.

The Agaligai Uttru Mutt is about 500 meters from Aralvaimozhi, 2 km from Aralvaimozhi Railway Station, 16 km from Nagercoil, and 32 km from kanyakumari.

The nearest Railway Station is Aralvaimozhi.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

A Donor

The entrance to Agaligai Uttru

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA---