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 16th to 18th
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, which 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…..
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 the Sastha temple, a 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 the 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 the Nayaka’s period, and the mandapam after the
Rajagopuram was built by the kings of Travancore Samasthanam.
Maha
Kumbhabhishakam was conducted on 2nd February 1996 and 14th
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 of the inscribed stone installed at Meenakshi Amman temple, northeast
corner of the first praharam, record 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
historian's deity, Kandan later became Shasta. The Kandan Sastha was installed
and worshiped, where blood 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 in 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 the 10 days of Panguni Uthira
festivals, and a 4-day Thirukalyana Utsavam.
During Panguni
Uthira Thiruvizha (Thamburan Vilaiyattu), Sastha, also known as Thamburan, will
be taken in procession on a 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
The Travancore King
Donors
--- OM SHIVAYA
NAMA---
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