Sri Umai Eswarmudaiya Nayanar Temple / ஸ்ரீ உமையீஸ்வரமுடையார் கோவில், Echanthi Mangalam, Thuvarangadu, Thittuvilai, Nagercoil, Kanyakumari/ Kanniyakumari District, Tamil Nadu.

The visit to this Sri Umai Eswaramudaiya Nayanar Temple at Echanthi Mangalam, 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 Shiva Temple is a rock-cut cave temple from the Pandya period.

 

Moolavar: Sri Umai Eswarmudaiya Nayanar

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

This Rock Cut Cave Temple faces east on a small Kundru. There are 23 steps constructed to approach the temple. A small deepa sthambam / pillar is in front of the temple. A stucco image of Shiva and Uma as Rishabaroodar is on the top of the entrance to the temple. Stucco dwarapalakas are at the entrance of the ardha mandapam. Rishabam is in front of the sanctum sanctorum. A stucco bas relief of Shiva and Parvati is on the top of the sanctum sanctorum. In the rock-cut cave sanctum sanctorum, Moolavar is on a square avudaiyar. (Shiva Linga is from the mother rock?). Utsava metal idols Nataraja, Shivakami, and a Nagar are in the ardha mandapam.

In the praharam, Sastha Boothathan and Manthiramurthy, in the form of balipeedam, Nagars, Dakshinamurthy, Siddhar Peedam, Chandikeswarar, Kanni Vinayagar, and Bala Murugan are in the outer praharam. The east and north walls of the praharam have the stucco bas-reliefs of Maha Vishnu as Ananda Sayanar, Raghavendra, Shiva and Parvati, Vinayagar, and Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniar.

Sastha Boothathan and Manthiramurthy

ARCHITECTURE

The sanctum sanctorum is alone scooped from a boulder. The antarala and ardha mandapam are constructed abutting the sanctum sanctorum. Mandapas are on a pada bandha adhistanam with jagathy, Muppattai kumudam, and pattikai. The bhitti starts vedikai. The pilasters are Vishnukantha pilasters with square bases, kalasam, kudam, lotus petals mandi, palakai, and pushpa pothyal. The prastaram consists of valapi and kapotam. There is no vimana on the boulder above the sanctum sanctorum.  One tala with nagara sigara vimanam is on the Murugan sannidhi.

Mandapa was constructed abutting the Rock Cut Cave- Sanctum Sanctorum 

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

As per the temple’s display, this Rock Cut Cave temple is 1250 years old and belongs to the Pandya period. The antarala and ardha mandapam are constructed during the 16^th to 17^th Century Vijayanaga/ Nayakas period.

Jeernodharana ashtabandhana Maha kumbhabhishekam was conducted on 19^th August 2003.

Dakshinamurthy sannidhi was the gift of S Ramachandra Pillai and M Eeswaramurthy Achari Sons.

LEGENDS

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from oru kala regular poojas, special poojas are conducted on Maha Shivaratri days.

TEMPLE TIMINGS

Since oru kala pooja is conducted, the opening and closing times are unpredictable.

CONTACT DETAILS

HOW TO REACH

This temple is at Thuvarangadu, near Thittuvilai, on Thuvarancaud – Mathiasnagar Road, and 950 meters from Nagercoil to Kulasekam state Highways.

The temple is 13 km from Nagercoil and 43 km from Kanyakumari.

The nearest Railway Station is Nagercoil.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

Sastha Boothathan and Manthiramurthy sannidhi

Vinayagar Sannidhi

Siddhar Peedam 

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA---