The visit to this Sri Swarnamoorthheeswarar Temple at Kandadevi
was part of the “Sivaganga and Pudukkottai Temples and Heritage Sites Visit” on 2nd and
3rd 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.
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 05th 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
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OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---
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