Kailasanathar Temple, Serndhapoomangalam, Thoothukudi
Kailasanathar
Temple is located in Serndhapoomangalam in Thoothukudi District of Tamilnadu.
It is one of the Nava Kailasam Temples and is dedicated to Lord Shiva. This
temple is associated with Shukra, among the Navagrahas. The shrine is around 53
km from Thoothukudi Town – 3 km ahead of Attur. This is the ninth among the
nine Nava Kailasam temples. The shrine is located on the banks
of Thamiraparani River.
The
ancient temple to Kailasanathar at Serndhapoomangalam, near Keezhaatur,
was one of the most beautiful Temple in the Nava Kailasam circuit. The
Navagrahas here were represented as Lingams. As in many of the temples here,
the outer corridor had figures of the Saptamatrikas as well as the Nayanmars in
stone. This temple is supposed to be the last one in the Nava Kailasam
circuit, where the ninth flower given by Sage Agasthya washed up.
The name
of the village, Sernda-poo-mangalam, literally means “the place where the
flowers were finally collected”. Here, the Lord is considered to represent Shukran,
or Venus. Of the Nava Kailash Shiva temples, this belongs to Shukra – Venus
Planet.
Legends
During
the Shiva – Parvathi wedding in Mount Kailash, due to the huge gathering of
sages to attend the divine event, north went down in level and south rose up
equally. To balance the earth level, Sage Agasthya came to south. His
first disciple, Sage Romasa had a desire to install Shivalingas in this
place. As suggested by his Guru Agasthya, he let nine lotus flowers flow
in Tamirabarani & installed Shivalingas at each place when a flower touched
the bank. The last & the ninth flower reached this place –Serndhapoomangalam.
The
Temple
The
temple has two entrances. There are shrines for Kanni Vinayagar,
Chokkanathar, Bhairava, Meenakshi, planets Sun, Moon and Sani Bhagwan. Lord
Muruga is on his peacock vahanam turning right. The temple might have been
built either by Kulasekhara Pandya or Maravarman Sundara Pandian I as there are
separate shrines for Madurai Chokkanathar and Meenakshi Amman in this temple.
The idol
of Kubera on an elephant is sculpted on the Vimana above the sanctum sanctorum
with his two consorts – Sanganidhi and Padmanidhi. This is the only temple with
Kubera the Lord of Wealth in this posture. Lord Kailasa Nathar graces from
the sanctum sanctorum with Shukra-Venus characteristics. Mother Azhagiya
Ponnammai is facing south.
Devotees
believe that worshipping Kubera would bring them prosperity. Papanasam is the
first of the Nava Kailasham Temples. Tamirabarani River begins its flow
from the Pothigai hills here and confluences with Punnaikayal Sea face in this
place. On the new moon days in the months of Aadi and Thai – July – August
and January-February respectively, special pujas are dedicated to Lord Kailasanathar.
Shiva is
worshipped here as Kailasanathar. Mother Goddess Shakti is worshipped as
Azhagiya Ponnammai. Nandi murti faces the main Shivalingam. There are also
murtis of Samaya Kuravar Naalvar and 63 Nayanmars and Saptha Kannimars. Another
Special feature here is the Nava Lingams – nine lingas.
Temple
Opening Time
The
temple is open from 7.00 a.m. to 9.30 a.m. and from 5.30 p.m. to 7.30 p.m.
Festivals
New Moon
days in the month of Aadi – July – August and Thai-January February; monthly Pradoshams
and Maha Shivrathri in February-March are the days of special pujas and
festivals in the temple.
Prayers
People
pray Kubera in the temple seeking prosperity boon. Devotees offer white vastras
to planet Shukra-Venus in the Navagraha Mandap with rice prepared with a pulse
called Mochai in Tamil and curd rice as nivedhana. They offer white lotus
flowers also.
Contact
Sri
Kailasanathar Temple, Serndhapoomangalam,
Tuticorin
district, Tamilnadu
Phone: +91 94883 42861,
94870 08953, 96777 72348.
Connectivity
Serndhapoomangalam
is located near Keezhaatur, about 20 km from Tuticorin and 45 Km from
Tirunelveli. It is 20km km from Thoothukudi on the way to Thiruchendur near
Athoor and Punnaikayal. Attur is 50 km far from Tirunelveli. Serndhapoomangalam
is 3km from Attur reachable through Punnaikayal buses. Autos are available from
Attur.
References