The visit to this Sri Akkasalai
Vinayagar and Sri Mutharamman Temples, at Madavilagam, Kadukkarai Azhagiyapandiapuram, was a part of
the “Nanjil Nadu Heritage Walk”, organised by the Tamil Nadu Tourism Department
and the தொண்டை மண்டல வரலாற்று ஆய்வு சங்கம் “திருக்கச்சி” from 16th to 18th
May 2025. I extend my sincere thanks to Mr. Velu
Pillai and Mrs. Radha Balan Ruth for organizing this Heritage Walk.
Sri Mutharamman temple on the same street belongs to the Viswakarma Community
Moolavar: Sri
Akkasalai Vinayagar
Some of the
salient features of this temple are…..
The temple faces
east with a mandapam. Stucco images of Ayyanar, Vinayagar, and Murugan are on
the top of the entrance mandapam. A balipeedam and its vahana Moonjuru are in
front of the sanctum sanctorum. Dwarapalakas are at the entrance of the sanctum
sanctorum. In the sanctum, Vinayagar with 4 hands. No murtis in the koshtam. Nagars
and Ayyanar, and Murugan are in the praharam.
ARCHITECTURE
The temple
consists of the sanctum sanctorum, antarala, ardha mandapam, and a 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 of Brahma Kantha pilasters with kalasam, kudam, palakai, and vettu pothyal. The
prastaram consists of valapi, kapotam, with nasi kudus and vyyalavari. An eka
tala nagara vimanam is in the sanctum sanctorum. The ardha mandapam is of
vavvalnethi style.
HISTORY AND
INSCRIPTIONS
As per the style
of construction, the temple belongs to the 10th – 12th century
Pandya period. As
per the dictionary akka-cālai - arka பொன் முதலிய உலோக வேலை செய்யுமிடம். (சிலப். 16,
126, உரை ) 2. Mint - நாணயசாலை. The Akka
salai is also referred to in the Silapathikaram literature. Hence, this place might
have been a coin minting factory. As proof of the same, the street, where
this Vinayagar temple is located, has about 25 families of the Viswakarma community who are
still living. With the same name, there is also a Vinayagar Temple in Tirunelveli.
The temple was renovated completely. The whitewashing of the walls is removed, and the vimanam and front mandapam are also reconstructed. Maha Kumbhabhishekam was conducted in May-June 2025. The old photos taken from the website are uploaded.
POOJAS AND
CELEBRATIONS
Apart from regular
poojas, special poojas are conducted on Vinayagar Chaturthi, Viswakarma day, etc.
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.
HOW TO REACH
The Vinayagar Temple is on the way to Kurathiyarai, a
Pandya Period Rock Cut Cave Temple about 17 km from Nagercoil, Kanyakumari,
32 km from Kanyakumari, 81 km from Tirunelveli, 250 km from Madurai, and 800
km from Chennai.
The nearest Railway Station is Nagercoil.
LOCATION OF THE
TEMPLE: CLICK HERE
The Street
--- OM SHIVAYA
NAMA---
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