Kailasanathar Temple, Vembathur, Sivaganga
Kailasanathar
Temple is dedicated to Hindu God Shiva located at Vembathur in Sivaganga
District. This Temple is 500 years Old. Vembattur has the pride of being the
birth place of renowned Tamil Scholars belonging to the Sangam Age.
Legends
Malayadwaja Pandya achieving the benefit of Kailasa
Darshan:
Malayadwaja
Pandya decided to perform Puthrakameshti Yajna to have a child. Brahmin
Pandits advised him to go to Kailash, have a darshan of Lord Shiva before
starting the Yagna. The king set on a pilgrimage to Kailash as advised by
the Pandits with his queen Kanchanamala. He heard a voice on the way saying
“Mind by itself is Kailash”. He worshipped Lord Shiva with his mind set on
Lord Shiva. Lord granted him darshan in this place itself as Kailasa
Nathar. The king achieved the benefit of Kailash darshan in this place.
Ambica accompanying Kaviraja Pandithar as his daughter
to Kasi:
Kaviraja
Pandithar, a Sri Vidya Upasaka – Shakti worshipper - belongs to this place. He
took a pilgrimage to Kasi (now Varanasi) with his daughter. Half the way,
Mother Ambica accompanied him as his daughter and the real daughter had reached
home. During the pilgrimage he bought lot of bangles and gave his daughter
(Mother Ambica).
Returning
home, he asked his daughter about the bangles. She was confused. Ambica
appeared, showed the bangles and disappeared. Kaviraja Pandithar came to
know that it was Ambica, not his daughter who accompanied him to Kasi. He
rendered Acharya Sankara’s Soundarya Lahari in sweet Tamil verses. His Jeeva
Samadhi is in Veera Cholam, 40 km far from Vembattur. People call it Iyer
Samadhi.
Greatness
of this Place
Vembattur
is the soil closely associated with the life of illustrious Tamil
scholars. Dr. U.V. Swaminatha Iyer was here in his uphill task of
collecting and editing ancient famous Tamil works by gifted authors. Sei
in Tamil means green fields. Many places here bear the names of great
inspired poets and scholars as Kamban Sei, Koothan Sei, Paranar Vaikal – a
canal, Kalamegathar, Avvai Thidal and so on. Vembathur Kumananar and
Kannan Koothanar of the Sangam age belong to this place.
The
Temple
Presiding
deity is called as Kailasanathar and Mother is called as Avudai Nayagi.
Theertham is called as Kailasa Theertham. There are shrines for Lords Vinayaka,
Muruga, Nataraja, Bhairava and Sun, Moon and Navagrahas the nine planets. The
temple has two entrances. The Kailasa Theertham tank is at the entrance.
Temple
Opening Time
The
temple is open from 8.00 a.m. to 9.00 a.m. and from 5.00 p.m. to 6.00 p.m.
Festivals
Besides
observing the monthly pradosha pujas, the temple grandly celebrates Maha
Shivrathri in February-March.
Prayers
It is
the staunch belief of the people here that Lord and Mother would clear the Putra
Dosha (preventing child bearing) problem faced by couples and that the first
child will be a male. Devotees perform abishek to Lord and Mother and offer
vastras.
Contact
Sri
Kailasanathar Temple,
Vembattur,
Sivaganga District
Mobile: +91 97903 25083
Connectivity
Vembattur
is 8 km far from the Tirupacheti stop on the Madurai – Rameswaram Road. Bus
facility is available. Nearest Railway Station is located at Sivaganga and
Nearest Airport is located at Madurai.
