The visit to Sri Karunelli Nathar Temple at
Sankarankovil was a part of “Tirunelveli Heritage Walk”, organised by the
Culture Circuits, from 11th to 13th July 2025. Earlier, Shiva was called Irunellinathar, which has been corrupted to the present name of
Karunellinathar. To support this claim, there were two Amla trees (Gooseberry)
in the temple.
Moolavar :
Sri Karunellinathar, Nelli Vana Nathar.
Consort : Sri Meenakshi Amman, Chokki Amman
Some of the Salient features of this temple are….
The temple faces east with an entrance step and
mandapam on the east side. Balipeedam, Dwajasthambam, and Rishabam are in front
of the sanctum sanctorum. Dwarapalakas are at the entrance of the sanctum sanctorum. In
Sanctum Moolavar, and avudayar are square in shape and excavated from the mother
rock.
In praharam Vinayagar, Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniar,
Chandikeswarar, Durgai, Bairavar, Chandran, Suryan, Saptamatrikas, Sri
Girikujambal Piraisoodi Amman & Naganatha Swamy, and Kotravai.
Ambal Meenakshi is in a separate temple facing east
with sanctum sanctorum, ardha mandapam, and maha mandapam. Dwarapalakis are at
the entrance of the sanctum sanctorum. Balipeedam and Rishabam are in front of the sanctum
sanctorum. Ambal is in a standing posture with a lotus bud in the right hand, and the left hand is in dola hastam.
ARCHITECTURE
The temple consists of the sanctum sanctorum, ardha
mandapam, maha mandapa, prahara mandapa, and vasantha mandapa. From adhistam to prastaram, the temple was
built with stone. The Sanctum Sanctorum is on a pada bandha adhistanam with
jagathy, three patta kumudam, and pattikai. The Bhitti starts with vedikai. The
prastaram consists of valapi and kapotam. A two-tala vesara brick vimanam is on
the sanctum sanctorum. Shiva, Dakshinamurthy, Maha Vishnu, and Brahma are in the
tala and greeva koshtams.
HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS
In the northern
portion of this village, Thiruthangaal, a hillock known as Tangalgiri, and a
Shiva temple were built along with Sri Ninra Narayana Perumal. The inscription
records the name of this place as ‘Karunilakudi Nattu Thiruthangal’. As per the
inscriptions, this temple was constructed in 1233 CE in the reign of Sundara
Pandyan-I.
பொயு
133 ஆம் நூற்றாண்டு, பாண்டிய மன்னர் சுந்தர
பாண்டியரின் 17ஆவது ஆட்சியாண்டு, திருநெல்லி
நாத சுவாமி திருக்கோயில் அர்த்த மண்டபம் தென்சுவரில் (கருவூல அறையிலுள்ளது) உள்ள
கல்வெட்டு, பூங்கமழ் சோலை சிற்றூருடையானாகிய
குருகுலத்தரையனைப் பற்றிய பாடல் கல்வெட்டாகக் காணப்படுகிறது. இவன் சிவன் கோயிலைக்
கற்றளியாகச் செய்தமைத்ததையும் பதிவு செய்கின்றது. பாடல் கல்வெட்டு. இவற்றில்
முதலிரண்டு பாடல்கள் நெல்லையப்பர் கோவிலிலும் கல்வெட்டுகளாக வெட்டப்பட்டுள்ளன.
The 13th-century Sundara Pandyan’s 17 reign inscription records that the temple was
built by a person called Gurukulatharaiyan. The praising song about
Gurukulatharaiyan of Poongamil Garden is found in the inscription. It is to be
noted that the first two lines of the song can also be seen in the stone
scripture of Nellaiyappar temple. This inscription mentioned that
Gurukulatharaiyan had prevented Shiva from becoming a Bhiksatana to beg for his
daily bowl of bali by instituting a special service and making provisions for
food offerings to the temple.
பொயு 17-
18 ஆம் நூற்றாண்டு குமாரரங்கப்ப நாயக்கர் காலத்தைச் சார்ந்த
அருள்மிகு கருநெல்லி நாத சுவாமி திருக்கோயில் கருவறை வடக்குச் சுவரில் உள்ள
கல்வெட்டு இவ்விறைவர்க்கு உடைப்பன் குளத்து வருவாயில் கால்பங்கு இறைவன் இறைவி
பூசைக்காகக் கொடுக்கப்பட்டதைப் பதிவு செய்கின்றது.
A 17th–18th
Century CE, Vijayanagara King Kumarappa Nayaka period inscription on the north
wall of the central shrine of the Shiva temple, records an endowment of ¼ share
of the UdaippanKulam village after purchasing it, for the purpose of conducting
puja expenses of both Shiva and Amman.
A 1032 CE inscription
records the temples as Paramaswamy, who willingly chose the hillock as his
abode.
A lake by the name of
Vallabha Pereri existed by the side of the temple.
Ulli Bomman
Kalangatha Kanda Nayakar, who attained martyrdom in a war at Thiruthangal, was
sanctified by donating the places around Thiruthangal to his family. An image
of the warrior is found on the rock where the temple exists.
Maha Kumbhabhishekam
was conducted on 15th September 2005.
Ref
- Excavations of Archaeological Sites in Tamil Nadu (1969-1995)
- Virudhunagar District Inscriptions Volume I & II.
LEGENDS
When Maha Vishnu travelled to Srivilliputhur to
marry Andal, it had become night when he reached this place. So he stayed at
this place and decided to start the next day. Since Maha Vishnu stayed at this
place, this place is called Thiruthangal (Stay – தங்கல்).
The argument between all three devis, Sridevi,
Bhoodevi, and Neeladevi, over who was the favourite of Maha Vishnu. To prove the
status, Sridevi came down to this place and did a penance on Maha Vishnu.
Satisfied with Sridevi’s devotion and penance, Maha Vishnu gave darshan to
Sridevi and accepted her as his favourite.
Hence, the place is called “Thiruthangaal”. Thiru means Goddess
Sridevi, and Thangaal means stayed. (Stay – தங்கல்). A place where Sreedevi stayed.
As per another legend, the Pancha Pandavas lived
in this place for some time during their exile. For doing poojas and drinking, they
required water. Since a water source was available in this area, Arjuna shot an
arrow after praying to Ganga. The arrow that hits the earth, a water spring was
created. The spring water that flowed was called as Arjuna River.
Since two amla trees are in this temple, Shiva is
called Irunellinathar, which has been corrupted to the present name of Karunellinathar.
POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS
Apart from regular poojas, special poojas are
conducted on pradosham, Amavasya, Pournami, Maha Shivaratri, Sankadahara
Chaturthi, Vinayagar Chaturthi, Thaipoosam, etc.
TEMPLE TIMINGS
The temple will be kept open from 06.30 hrs to
12.00 hrs and from 16.30 hrs to 21.00 hrs.
CONTACT DETAILS
HOW TO REACH
The temple is on a small Hill. The temple is 450
meters from Thiruthangal, 3.7 km from Sivakasi, 22 km from Srivilliputhur, 36
km from Rajapalayam, 71 km from Madurai, and 103 km from Tirunelveli.
The nearest Railway Station is Thiruthangal.
LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE
Murugan Temple at the top of the hill
PC - website
--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA---
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