Kumaran Temple, Nagapattinam
Sri
Kumaran Temple is dedicated to Hindu God Murugan located at Neela South Street
in Nagapattinam Town. Presiding Deity is called as Meikanda Moorthy.
Legends
Lord Murugan curing his devotee from Leprosy:
One
Alagumuthu was serving in the temple as the security man. His service was
unfortunately terminated as he developed leprosy. Stricken with poverty,
he used to enter the temple secretly and prayed to Lord for relief. One day,
before he left the temple, the doors were closed and he was trapped
inside. He could not bear his hunger. Lord Muruga appeared before
Alagumuthu, cured his disease completely and quenched his hunger. Lord
also gifted Alagumuthu high proficiency in Tamil to sing poetries. Lord
Muruga was known as Meikandamurthy. In course of time, the temple
came to be known as Kumaran Koil.
Anandarangam Pillai, Builder of this Temple:
Karmukeeswarar Temple being
one of the 12 Shiva temples of Nagapattinam was on the banks
of Uppanaru River. With the commandments of King Megarajan,
pujas were regularly performed in the temple as per rules. In later years,
the temple was dilapidated. Idols of the temple including that of Lord
Muruga got buried under the soil.
Lord
Muruga appeared in the dream of one Anandarangam Pillai, who was serving under
the British in Puducherry as Dubashi (person knowing English and the language
of the soil – here Tamil and English) and told him of his lying under the soil
in Nagapattinam. He asked him to build a temple for him near the
Kayaroganeswarar temple in South Street. Thus Kumaran Temple came
into being.
Indira gifted his Iravadham to Lord Murugan on his
Marriage:
It may
be recalled that Indira gifted his Iravadham the white elephant to Lord Muruga
on his wedding with Deivanai. In the place of the peacock, this elephant
is installed before the shrine of Meikandamurthy-Lord Muruga.
Prayer centre seeking wealth:
As
Kubera too is installed in the temple, this is considered a prayer centre
seeking wealth.
The
Temple
Presiding
Deity is called as Meikanda Moorthy. There are shrines of Lord Vinayaka,
Kubera, Mother Durga, Navagrahas the nine planets, Lord Viswanatha and Mother
Visalakshi in the temple. Saint Arunagirinathar had sung the praise of the
temple in his celebrated Thirupugazh. In the place of the peacock, this
elephant is installed before the shrine of Meikandamurthy – Lord Muruga.
Temple
Opening Time
The
temple is open from 7.00 a.m. to 11.30 a.m. and from 5.30 p.m. to 9.00 p.m.
Festivals
Vaikasi
Visakam in May-June, Skanda Sashti in October-November, Navarathri in
September-October, 10 day Thaipoosam in January-February, Kubera Puja on
Deepavali Day (Aipasi New Moon day) are the festivals observed in the temple.
Prayers
Devotees
suffering from skin problems and leprosy pray in the temple and consume the
water Prasad (Theertham) in the belief it cures them. Devotees perform milk
abishek to Lord Muruga.
Contact
Sri
Kumaran Tirukkovil,
Neela
South Street,
Nagapattinam
– 611 001
Mobile: +91 99941 98391 /
94429 29270
Connectivity
The
temple is near the Nalukal Mandapam bus stop on the Nagapattinam-Thanjavur
route. Town buses are available. Nearest Railway Station is located at Nagapattinam
and Nearest Airport is located at Trichy.