The visit to this Sri Kailasanathar Temple at Ilayathangudi, in Sivaganga
District, was part of “Shiva, Vishnu and Buddhist Temples Visit in Puducherry,
Nagapattinam, Sivagangai, Pudukottai, Thanjavur and Tiruchirappalli
Districts”, from 8th to 10th April 2026. This is one of the nine
Shiva temples and a common temple of Nattukottai Nagarathars.
Moolavar : Sri Kailasanathar
Consort : Sri Nithya Kalyani Amman.
Some
of the salient features of this temple are….
The
temple faces east with a 3-tier Rajagopuram and a Hexagonal mukha mandapam.
Balipeedam, Dwajasthambam, and Rishabam are after the Rajagopuram. Dwarapalakas
are on either side of the sanctum sanctorum. In the koshtam, Vinayagar,
Dakshinamurthy, Lingothbavar, Brahma, and Durgai.
In the
inner praharam, Nalvar, Kailasa Vinayagar, Somaskandar, and 4 Veda murthis, Nagars
with Ganapati, Vishwanathar with Visalakshi, Subramaniar, Bikshadanar, Sastha, Durgai, Sri Valli Devasena subramaniar, Lakshmi Narayanar, Gajalakshmi,
Chandikeswarar, Navagrahas, Thazhuva Kuzhaintha Kamkshi Amman, Chandran, and
Suryan.
Ambal
Nithya Kalyani Amman is in a separate sannidhi that faces south. Dwarapalakis are
on either side of the sanctum sanctorum. Ambal is in a standing posture with
abhaya varada hastam.
Chandikeswarar
ARCHITECTURE
The
temple was constructed with stone from adhistanam to prastaram, and the vimanam
above the bhumi desam was built with bricks. The temple consists of the sanctum
sanctorum, antarala, and mukha mandapam. The sanctum sanctorum is on an
adhistanam with jagathy, three patta kumudam, and pattikai. The bhitti starts
with vedikai. The pilasters are of Vishnu kantha pilasters with kalasam, kudam,
lotus petals mandi, and pushpa pothyal. The prastaram consists of madhalai,
kapotam with nasi kudus, and vyyalavari. The nasi kudus are with various
sculptures. The kapota are similar to the kodungai. The vesara vimanam above
bhumi desam is with one tala, greevam and vesara sigaram. Stucco images of
Shiva, Dakshinamurthy, Maha Vishnu, and Brahma are in the tala and greeva
koshtams.
The
mandapa pillars in front of Dakshinamurthy are beautifully sculpted. The maha mandapa
pillars are with Nayaka/ Chettiar donor sculptures.
Dakshinamurthy Mandapam
Ceilings
are painted with the stories related to Shiva.
HISTORY
AND INSCRIPTIONS
The
original temple is believed to have been built during the 12th to 13th
century Pandya period, and the same was reconstructed in the 20th
century. The Shiva Lingam was unearthed from a field which belongs to the Thanjavur Temple land. The Shiva Lingam was brought here and installed.
Kanchi
mutt Sri Sankaracharya Swamigal stayed in Ilayathagudi and did Jyeshtha Krishna
Amavasya pooja on 17th June 1939, at Kamalalaya Thadagam Okkur
Udaiyar Piralaya Oorani (An idol is installed on the banks of Oorani).
AC Muthia's contribution to this temple
Maha
Kumbhabhishekam was conducted on 02nd May 1985, 30th May
2004, and 01st September 2022.
Donor
LEGENDS
As per the legend, the Devas stayed in this place to get peace, fearing the Asuras' torture. Since this place gave peace to the Devas, this place was called "IlaiyaRRangkudi", which has been corrupted to the present name of Ilayathangudi.
POOJAS
AND CELEBRATIONS
Apart
from regular poojas, special poojas are conducted on pradosham, Maha
Shivaratri, Chukla Chaturthi, Sankadahara Chaturthi, Karthikai, etc.
TEMPLE
TIMINGS
The
temple will be kept open from 06.00 hrs to 12.00 hrs and from 15.30 hrs to
20.00 hrs.
CONTACT
DETAILS
The manager may be contacted on his mobile number
+919788216145 and WhatsApp +919442285845 for further details.
HOW TO
REACH
This
temple is about 16 km from Thirumayam, 28 km from Karaikudi, 30 km from
Tiruppatur, and 35 km from Pudukkati.
The
nearest Railway Station is Thirumayam.
LOCATION
OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE
--- OM
SHIVAYA NAMA ---
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