Arulmigu Sri Nainar Yogeeswaramudaiyar Temple /அருள்மிகு ஸ்ரீ நயினார் யோகீஸ்வரமுடையார் கோவில்/ A Siddhar Jeeva Samadhi Temple, Putheri, Nagercoil, Kanyakumari / Kanniyakumari District, Tamil Nadu.

The visit to this Sri Nainar Yogeeswaramudaiyar Temple/ A Siddhar Jeeva Samadhi Temple at Putheri 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 is a unique temple, where the whole structure itself is worshipped as Nayinar Yogeeswaramudaiyar. This place, Putheri, obtained its name from an ant hill – in Tamil, Putru- புற்று, from around a Yogi. The same has been corrupted as Putheri. 

Moolavar: Sri Yogeeswarar

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

An arch is on the roadside with a stucco image of Yogeeswarar in the form of an ant hill, Murugan, Vinayagar, a Yogi, and a Boothathan. This Siddhar Jeeva Samadhi faces east without any idol. Poolavudaiya Kandan Sastha (In the form of balipeedam) is on the Southwest corner of the temple and Bhoothathan Sannidhi. The brick structure is believed to be the Jeeva Samadhi of the Yogeeswarar. A step with a handrail is installed to climb to the top. Two bell towers are on both sides of the entrance. A stucco image of the Yogi’s sitting posture is on the top of the entrance gate of the temple.

ARCHITECTURE

This Yogeeswarar Jeeva Samadhi is in the form of a brick structure about 22 feet high around the ant hill. The Jeeva Samadhi is open to the sky without any formal structure. The mud plaster will come out due to the rain, and the same will be plastered before the annual celebration. 

Buddhists claim that the statue is a Buddha with a bowl in his hand

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

The full history of this Yeeswaramaudayar temple is not known. As per the experts, the brick structure was built in recent years.

Buddhists claim that this is a remnant of a stupa, which belongs to the 11th century CE. The place Buddheri has been corrupted to the present name of Putheri. Click here to read the article. 

The bell tower has the inscription of installing the same.

LEGENDS

As per the legend, Sastha, in the form of balipeedam, was under the Poolathi tree, worshipped by the locals. A Yogi came to the place and stayed there worshipping the Sastha. The Yogi attained Jeeva Samadhi at this place. The details of the Yogi are not known. Later, an ant hill was formed above the Jeeva Samadhi. The locals called the ant hill Yogeeswarar and worshipped it. Later, a brick wall was constructed around the ant hill. The brick structure will be plastered with mud during the celebration. 

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

The Friday that comes after the Panguni Uthiram will be celebrated as a festival. On that day, red earth mud will be plastered around the brick wall, and eyes eye-opening ceremony will be conducted.

Special poojas are conducted on Vaikasi Visakam day. Juice is extracted from the jackfruit, Mango, and raw rice is offered to this Yogeeswarar as naivedyam. 

The mud is offered as a Prasad. For the child boon, the devotees consume the Prasad with water.   

TEMPLE TIMINGS

Since oru kala pooja is conducted, the opening and closing times are unpredictable. As per the locals, the temple will be kept open from 06.30 hrs to 8.30 hrs and from 18.30 hrs to 20.00 hrs

CONTACT DETAILS

HOW TO REACH

The Yogeeswarar temple at Putheri, a part of Nagercoil, is about 100 meters from the 194 State Highway - Nagercoil to Kulasekaram.

The temple is about 7 km from Nagercoil and 23 km from Kanyakumari.

The nearest Railway Station is Nagercoil.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA---