Bilva Vananatha Swamy Temple, Pathamadai, Thirunelveli
Bilva
Vananatha Swamy Temple is dedicated to Hindu God Shiva located at Pathamadai
Village near Cheranmahadevi in Thirunelveli District of Tamilnadu. It is
located north of the Kariya Manikkam Perumal temple. The Temple was recipient
of huge grants by the Pandya Kings including Sadaya Varma Kulasekara, Maravarma
Sundara Pandyan and Maravarma Kulasekara Pandyan in the 12th-14th Century
period.
There
was also a big renovation of this temple in 1203AD according to an inscription
at the Bilva Vananatha Swamy temple with special festive poojas performed on a
grand scale on Panguni Uthiram. Pathamadai is 1 Km east of Cheranmahadevi on
the Thirunelveli – Ambai/Papanasam Highway. From Pathamadai bus stand, the
temple is walking distance at just under ½ km north. Buses ply every 15 minutes
between Thirunelveli & Cheranmahadevi.
Cheranmahadevi
is located at about 50 Kms from Tenkasi, 17 Kms from Ambasamudram, 6 Kms from
Veeravanallur, 30 Kms from Thirunelveli, 190 Kms from Madurai & 155 Kms
from Thiruvananthapuram. Chakkarathzhwar Temple at Karisulntha Mangalam is
located at about 2 Kms north of this temple on the banks of Tamaraibarani.