Sastha (Kai Vide Appar) Temple, Kaivilancheri,
Nagapattinam
Sastha
(Kai Vide Appar) Temple is located at Kaivilancheri Village in Nagapattinam
district of Tamilnadu. Presiding Deity is called as Kai Vide Appar and Mothers
are Pooranai and Pushkalai.
Legends
Demon Surapadma
and his brothers established their empire with Veera Mahendrapuram as their
capital. They also conquered all the worlds –Bhooloka, Padala Loka and the
Indraloka. Having lost his kingdom, Indira came to earth with Indirani,
stayed in a bamboo forest and worshipped Lord Shiva for relief. During the
day time they performed penance on Lord Shiva. During the nights, they hid
themselves in the lotus flowers held by Lord Sastha.
Pleased
with their penance, Lord Shiva advised Indira to come and meet him in Shiva
Loka. Indira left Indirani with Sastha to protect her from the
demons. After a while Sastha too left for Shiva Loka to submit his
accounts to Lord Shiva. He appointed Makalar to take care of Indirani till
he returned back. Ajamukhi, sister of Surapadma was waiting for such an
opportunity to abduct beautiful Indirani and present her to her brother for
marriage.
Makalar
fought Ajamukhi and chopped off her hands. She ran away in
defeat. The place where her hand fell came to be known as Kai Vizhundha
Cheri (Kai-hand, Vizhundha-fallen Cheri-place). The name later changed as
Kaivilan Cheri. The place is near Sirkali where the Sastha-Kai Vide
Appar-temple exists.
The
Temple
The
temple greets devotees with its three tiered Rajagopuram at the
entrance. Entering the temple, devotees are graced by Sri Jitendriaya
Chella Anjaneya on the right, Lord Vinayaka on the left and Rahu and Ketu
planets. Lord Kasi Viswanatha graces from the sanctum sanctorum facing east
from the other temple in the same complex. There are shrines for Lords
Vinayaka and Subramania with his consorts in the west prakara and Chandikeswara
in the northern prakara.
Navagrahas
the nine planets are in the northeast. There are also shrines for Lord
Dakshinamurthy in the south and Mother Durga in the north in the Devakottam. Those
taking a pilgrimage to Sabarimalai, from here and nearby places begin the
journey after praying to Kai Vide Appar in this temple. It is noteworthy
that the temple for Lord Kasi Viswanathar is also within the long compound wall
of this temple. Thus there are two temples in this vast complex.
Lord Kai
Vide Appar – Sastha appears in the sanctum sanctorum in sitting posture, one
leg hanging and the other folded, with his consorts Pooranai and Pushkalai. The
temple is facing west. Sri Nandhi, the bull vehicle of Lord Shiva majestically
occupies the long Mandapam of this temple. There is also a shrine for
Mother Kamakshi appearing in her standing posture. Mother is holding lotus
flower in her upper hands and showing the Abhaya Mudra – assuring protection to
devotees – in the lower hands.
Lord
Kalyana Vinayaka graces the devotees from his shrine in the Artha Mandapam
entrance. Virgins pray to Lord Kalyana Vinayaka on Fridays before the Rahukalam
time begins seeking early wedding boon. Devotees have a staunch faith in
Kai Vide Appar that he would protect them as he did to protect Indirani wife of
Indira.
Temple
Opening Time
The
temple is open from 6.00 a.m. to 10.00 a.m. and from 5.00 p.m. to 8.00 p.m.
Festivals
Monthly
Pradoshams, Kruthika star days, Chaturthis; Aipasi Annabishekam on the
Poornima-full moon day in October-November; Navarathri in September-October;
Shivrathri in February-March and the Eka Dhina Laksharchana to Kaivede Appar on
the last Sunday of March (Eka Dhina Laksharchana – chanting the glorious names
of Kai Vida Appar one lakh times in a single day) are the festivals celebrated
in the temple.
Prayers
Devotees
pray to Lord Sastha to realize their wishes and Lord Vinayaka during the
Rahukalam time for wedding boon. Devotees perform special abishek and pujas to
Kai Vide Appar.
Connectivity
The
temple is 5 km from the Sirkazhi new bus stand. Nearest Railway Station is
located at Sirkazhi and Nearest Airport is located at Trichy.
