Arulmigu Sri Agastheeswarar Temple/ அருள்மிகு நைனார் கோவில், கோட்டூர் நைனார்வயல்/ Kottur Nainarvayal, Sivaganga District, Tamil Nadu.

The visit to this Sri Agastheeswarar Temple at Kottur Nainarvayal was part of the “Sivaganga and Pudukkottai Temples and Heritage Sites Visit” on 2^nd and 3^rd September 2026.

Moolavar  : Sri Agastheeswarar

Consort    : Sri Soundaranayaki

Some of the salient features of this temple are….

The temple faces east with a 5-tier Rajagopuram. The temple tank – Meenakshi Achi Thirukulam with neerazhi mandapam - is in front of the temple. Vinayagar and Murugan sannidhis are on either side of the entrance to the Rajagopuram. A two-tier Rajagopuram is on the south side, which is kept locked.

Kambathadi Vinayagar, Dwajasthambam, balipeedam, and two Rishabams are in the mukha mandapam. Moolavar is Swayambhu on a round avudaiyar. Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy with Nagars on both sides, Lingothbavar, and Brahma are in the koshtams.

In the praharam: Maha Kala Karuppar, Vinayagar, Gajalakshmi, Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniar, Chandikeswarar, Bairavar, Navagrahas, and Chandran.

Ambal is in a separate sannidhi in the Maha mandapam/ open maha mandapam. Ambal is in a three-bhanga standing posture with two hands, holds a lotus flower in the right hand, and the left hand is in dola hastam.

Maha Kala Karuppar is in a separate Sannidhi.  A highly decorated image and a square peedam on the right side are believed to be Maha Kala Karuppar. Thiruvasi with aruva/ long sickle flag and Vel are behind the image. Aruvas / long sickles and Thandams are kept in front of Karuppar’s image. 

Maha Kala Karuppar

Bells are tied after the wishes are fulfilled

ARCHITECTURE

The temple was constructed with stone from adhistanam to prastaram. The temple consists of sanctum sanctorum, antarala, ardha mandapam, and open mukha madapam/ maha mandapam. The sanctum sanctorum is on an adhistanam with Jagathi three patta kumudam and kapotam with nasi kudus. The bhitti starts with vedikai. The pilasters are Vishnu kantha pilasters with kalasam kudam, lotus petals mandi, palakai, veera kandam, and pushpa pothiyal. The prastaram consists of valapi with lotus petals, kapotam with nasi kudus, and vyyalavari. The two tala vesara vimanam over the bhumi desam were constructed with brick. Stucco images of Shiva, Dakshinamurthy, Maha Vishnu, and Brahma are on the tala and greeva koshtams. Maha nasis are on the cardinal directions on the sigaram.

South side Rajagopuram

The mandapam pillars around the Rishabam and Dwajasthambam have sculptures like Oorthuva Thandavar, Mahishamardini, Veerabhadra, etc. The pillars also have the sculptures of Nattukottai Nagarathars, who contributed to the construction/ thirupani to this temple.

Two Rishabas

Oorthuva Thandavar - Mahishamardini - Veerabhadra

Two oil lamp thiruvasi with inscriptions are in front of the ardha mandapam entrance and Ambal Sannidhi.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

It is said the original temple belongs to the 12^th to 13^th century Pandya period. But there is no evidence available to prove the same. The present structure was built by Nattukottai Nagarathars in the 19th – 20^th centuries.

Maha Kumbhabhishekam was conducted in 1920, 1950, on 10^th July 1987, and 15^th September 2005.

The oil Lamp Thiruvasi in front of the main temple was gifted by the Nattukottai Nagarathars, and the Thiruvasi in front of the Ambal temple was gifted by the Nattars.

Thiruvasi gifted by Nagarathars

Thiruvasi gifted by Nattars

The thirukulam in front of the temple excavation, Thirupani, was done by Meenakshi Achi, hence called “Meenakshi Achi Thirukulam”. The thirukulam renovation was done on 12^th November 2010.

LEGENDS

It is believed that the Shiva Linga was installed and worshipped by Agastheeswarar. As per the legend, during the celestial wedding of Shiva with Parvati, all the Gods, Devas, Maharishis, and Sages gathered at Mount Kailash. Due to this, the north side of the Earth lowered, and the south side went up. To balance the earth, Lord Shiva asked Agasthiyar to go south. From Mount Kailash towards Podhigai Hill, Agasthiyar established many Shiva Lingas and worshipped. It is believed that this temple is also one of them.

Maha Kala Karuppar is a powerful guardian deity (Kaaval Deivam) os Kottur Nainarvayal. The locals worship it first before starting any auspicious functions.

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from regular poojas, special poojas are conducted on pradosham and Maha Shivaratri,

TEMPLE TIMINGS

The temple will be kept open from 07.00 hrs to 11.30 hrs and from 16.00 hrs to 20.00 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS

The Gurukkal is residing on the south side of the Meenakshi Achi Thirukulam. The temple will be open only during temple timings.

HOW TO REACH

The Agastheeswarar temple at Kottur Nainarvayal is about 19.3 km from Devakottai, 26 km from Kalayarkoil, and 42 km from Sivaganga.

The nearest Railway Station is Devakottai.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

Dwarapalakas are on either side of the Rajagopuram

 These images are on the back side of Ambal sannidhi

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---

Sri Parshvanathar Temple/ Sri Parswanath Digamber Jain Temple, ஶ்ரீ பார்ஸ்வநாத் திகம்பர் ஜெயின் கோயில், அனுமந்தக்குடி/ Anumandhakudi, Sivaganga District, Tamil Nadu.

The visit to this Sri Parshvanathar Temple at Anumandhakudi was part of the “Sivaganga and Pudukkottai Temples and Heritage Sites Visit” on 2^nd and 3^rd September 2026. This temple is on the banks of the River Pambar.

திருத்தலப் பதிகம்

இராகம்: லலிதா               தாளம்: மிஸ்ரம் ஏகம்

பாலர்முதி யோரெனவே ஆனபல நாள்களெலாம்
        பாழ்படவே போக விட்டாய்
மூலமுறு வினையடர மூண்டுவரு பிணிபடர
        மூலையினில் போய மர்ந்தாய்
ஏலமிகு வார்குழலின் ஏந்திழையர் மோகமற
        ஏத்துமனு மந்த குடியின்
மரலமரும் பார்ஸ்வனெனும் மாளவநா தப்ரபுவின்
        மாபதமே மன்னு மனமே! 

…. புலவர் தோ ஜம்புகுமாரன்.

Moolavar: Sri Parshvanathar

Some of the salient features of this temple are….

The temple faces east. New and old balipeedams and Sri Maha Sathaya are in front of the sanctum sanctorum. Ashtadik palakas are around the balipeedam. In the sanctum sanctorum, Parshvanathar sits under the canopy of 5 hooded snakes. Samaratharis are on both sides. A mukkudai is shown on top. A Tirthankar's image is also in the ardha mandapam. Maha Sathaya’s sannidhi is at the entrance after the balipeedam. A small image with folded hands is on the door jamb.

Dharma Devi is in a separate sannidhi and faces South. Dharma Devi is in a standing posture.

In the praharam, Jwalamalini sannidhi, without an image, faces east. Vinayagar, with two Nagars and two images, stands in the praharam but could not be identified.

Sri Parshvanathar

Tirthankar

Dharma Devi

Jwalamalini 

Sri Maha Sathaya

ARCHITECTURE

The original temple was reconstructed in recent years. The temple was constructed with stone from adhistanam to prastaram. The prastaram consists of valapi and kapotam with nasi kudus. The eka tala nagara vimanam over the bhumi desam was constructed with brick. Tirthankara images are on the greeva koshtams. Maha nasis are on the cardinal directions on the sigaram.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

It is said that the Parshvanath image belongs to the 10^th to 11^th Century. The original temple was reconstructed in recent years.

LEGENDS

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Oru kala pooja is conducted, and special poojas are conducted on all the Jain festivals like Paryushana / Daslakshan, Mahavir Jayanti, Diwali (Mahavira Nirvan Diwas), Akshaya Tritiya / Varshitapa, Jnana Panchami, etc.

TEMPLE TIMINGS

The temple will remain open throughout the day, as Vathiyar resides near the Jinalaya.

CONTACT DETAILS

There are three persons looking after the temple, and one is Mr Jaganathan +91 94885 39809, who may be contacted.

The functioning of this temple is done through Thanjavur Jains.

HOW TO REACH

The Jain temple is about 1 km from the village Anumandhagudi, 8 km from Devakottai, 18 km from Devakottai Railway Station, and 51 km from Sivaganga.

The nearest Railway Station is Devakottai.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

 

Donor

Unidentified images

Images around the balipeedam

Images around the balipeedam

Images around the balipeedam

Images around the balipeedam

 Balipeedams old and new

 Vinayagar Sannidhi

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---

Sri Swarnamoortheeswarar Temple/ Kandadevi Temple / கண்டதேவி கோயில், Kandadevi, Devakottai/ தேவகோட்டை, Sivaganga District, Tamil Nadu.

The visit to this Sri Swarnamoorthheeswarar Temple at Kandadevi was part of the “Sivaganga and Pudukkottai Temples and Heritage Sites Visit” on 2^nd and 3^rd September 2026.

Moolavar  : Sri Swarnamoortheeswarar, Sirakilinatha Swamy

Consort    : Sri Periya Nayaki

Some of the salient features of this temple are….

The temple faces east, with a 5-tier Rajagopuram and the temple tank, Jadayu theertham. Dwajasthamabam, balipeedam, and Rishabam are after the Rajagopuram under the mandapam. Dwarapalakas are at the entrance of the ardha mandapam. The sanctum sanctorum is about 3 feet higher than the praharam level. Dwarapalakas are at the entrance of the sanctum sanctorum. Moolavar is on a round avudaiyar. In the koshtam: Dakshinamurthy, Lingothbavar, Brahma, and Durgai.

In the praharam, Kasi Vishwanathar with Visalakshi, Natarajar with Sivakami, 63 var, Chandikeswarar, Gajalakshmi, and Dhandyuthapani.

In the outer praharam, Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniar/ Arumugar (on a peacock) and Somaskandar. 

Arumugar (on a peacock)

 Bairavar

On the Compound wall (Karuppa Swamy..?)

Ambal sannidhi and Palliyarai are on the right side of the Rishabam and balipeedam. Dwarapalakais are at the entrance of the sanctum sanctorum. Ambal is in a three-bangha standing posture with two hands, holds a lotus in the right hand, and the left hand is in a dola hastam.   

Ambal sannidhi 

ARCHITECTURE

The temple was constructed with stone from upanam to prastaram. The temple consists of sanctum sanctorum, antarala, ardhamandapam, and mukha mandapam with a corridor. The sanctum sanctorum is on a kapota bandha upanam, and adhistanam with padma Jagathy, silambu kumudam, and kapotam. The bhitti starts with bedikai. The pilasters are of vishnukantha pilasters with a square base, kalasam, kudam, lotus petals mandi, palakai, and pushpa pothyal. The prastaram consists of valapi, kapotam, and vyyalavari.

The vimanam above the bhumi desam was built of bricks. The vesara vimanam has two talas, greevam and sigaram. Shiva Dakshinamurthy, Maha Vishnu, and Brahma are in the tala and greeva koshtams.

The Dwahasthamba mandapam is like a corridor with intricately carved tall pillars. The Natukkottai Nagarathar Donor sculptures are on the pillars.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

Even though it is claimed to be an ancient temple, the present structure was constructed by the Nattukkottai Nagarathars.

Maha Kumbhabhishekam was conducted on 05^th February 2012.

LEGENDS

It is believed that Rama, Lakshmana, and Hanuman were at this place during their exile after Sita was abducted by Ravana. After Anjaneya found Sita at Ashoka Vanam in Srilanka, he came to this place and told Rama that he had seen Sita – in Tamil, Kanden Deviyai – கண்டேன் தேவியை. The Kanden Deviyai has been corrupted as Kandadevi.

Once, this place was under severe drought, and people prayed to Shiva to help for their survival.  Pleased with their prayers, Shiva showered this place with gold rain, and hence this place came to be known as Semponmari (செம்பொன்மாரி), and Shiva was called Swarnamoortheeswarar.

In another legend, the devotees wished to renovate the temple. When the 3 representatives who went to collect money fell down on a spot. This was reported to the king, and the king ordered that the spot be dug up. To their surprise, on excavation, they found a large quantity of gold coins. Since Shiva had given gold coins for renovation, Shiva was called Sri Swarnamoortheeswarar.        

In another legend, the original name of Shiva was Swarnabarneshwarar (Barna in Sanskrit means - Wings), which later became Swarnamoortheeswarar.  This is also connected to the legend of the epic Ramayan, in which Jadayu’s wing was cut by Ravana.

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from regular poojas, special poojas are conducted on pradosham, Maha Shivaratri, etc.

The grand car festival will be conducted in the Tamil month of Aani (June), in which nearly 75 villagers used to assemble for the festival. However, the same was stopped due to a clash between two communities. 

TEMPLE TIMINGS

The temple will be kept open from 06.00 hrs to 12.00 hrs and from 16.00 hrs to 20.00 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS

The priest Karthik Gurukkal’s mobile number +91 94439 56357 may be contacted for further details.

HOW TO REACH

The temple at Kandadevi is about 5 km from Devakottai, 12.3 km from Devakottai Railway Station, and 50 km from Sivaganga.

The nearest Railway Station is Devakottai.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---