Nitya Kalyani Temple (Vilva Vananatha Swamy Temple), Kadayam, Thirunelveli

Nitya Kalyani Temple (Vilva Vananatha Swamy Temple), Kadayam, Thirunelveli

Nitya Kalyani Temple is also called as Vilva Vananatha Swamy Temple) located in Kadayam in Thirunelveli District of Tamilnadu. It is a Devara Vaippu Sthalam temple. The famous Tamil poet and patriot Subramanya Bharathiyar lived in this village and used to visit this temple; he wrote many of his popular poems from this village. Presiding Deity is called as Vilva Vananatha Swamy / Vilvaranyeswarar. Mother is called as Nitya Kalyani. Theertham of this Temple is Chakra Theertham and Sthala Vriksham is Vilva tree.

Legends

For brief details, please refer below link;

http://tamilnadu-favtourism.blogspot.com/2017/03/nitya-kalyani-temple-kadayam-legends.html

History

Historically, as per the stone inscriptions, the Madurai Nayaka kings have developed the current structure of this temple. As per an inscription, Vikrama Pandyan has built the temple around 800 years ago. One of the inscriptions state that the Parivara deities were installed in 1216 CE. The sage Sundarar had referred this temple and hence it is much older and is also considered as Devara Vaippu Sthalam temple.

Association with Bharathi:

The eminent poet and freedom fighter Subramanya Bharathi once lived in Kadayam. Subramanya Bharati's wife was a native of Kadayam and it is believed that Bharathiyar often sang patriotic songs from the rooftop of his in-laws. Sri Subramanya Bharathi stayed in Pazhaya Gramam of Kadayam, with his family. People who lived in Kadayam during the 1930s & 1940s recollect the days when Sri Subramanya Bharathi used to walk up to Nithya Kalyani Amman Temple and sit on the flat squarish big stone and sung his several songs including the famous Kali songs, and the Panchali Sabhadam, etc. They also recollect his affection towards all living beings, including donkeys.

At that time the village had several donkeys, and many a time, Sri Bharathiyar used to hug the donkeys straying into the Pazhaya Gramam. He sang his famous "Chinnanchiru Kiliye", "Odi Vilayadu Pappa", "Kaani Nilam Vendum", songs in the village when his second daughter used to play around in the road outside his house. After his death in Chennai in 1921, his family came down to Kadayam and stayed for about 10 years where after they shifted residence to Chennai. His descendants are now in Chennai and Mumbai. One of his great grandsons Sri Rajkumar Bharathi shined as a noted Carnatic singer.

The Temple

Presiding Deity is called as Vilva Vananatha Swamy / Vilvaranyeswarar. Mother is called as Nitya Kalyani. Theertham of this Temple is Chakra Theertham and Sthala Vriksham is Vilva tree. The north facing temple does not have tower. It is located in a calm and secluded area in the outskirts of Kadayam village. The temple is surrounded by paddy fields. Presiding Deity is found in an east facing shrine. Adjacent to his shrine, the beautiful and attractive Nitya Kalyani Amman is found in a separate south facing shrine.

The Goddess of the temple is much more popular than the presiding deity of the temple. The flag staff, Bali peetha and Nandi are all found facing the Shiva Linga shrine. At the entrance of the shrine of Shiva Linga, a small Ganesha idol is found. Near the flag staff, the idols of Ganesha and Subramanya-Valli-Devasena are located. It is said that the Peetam is a Dharani Peetam. The temple has three prakaras. The wall around the main shrine has the niche images of Dhakshinamoorthi, Annamalaiyar, Shanti Durga with eight hands and Chandikeswara.

There is an important shrine dedicated to Bharani Peetha, a form (similar to Linga representing Shiva) which represents the Goddess. In Maha mandapa, the Utsava idols of Nataraja and Sivakami are located. In outer prakara, Navagraha, Sankara Nayinar (Shiva Linga) and few Nagas under the tree are located. This temple is also called as Sri Kailasam, Kaliyuga Rameesvaramudaiyaar and Dasaratha Rameesvaramudaiyaar.

There is a pushkar on the small hillock known as Sarabanga Mamuni Sunai Theertham. There is a Mani mandapam where we see Natarajar with Sivakami Ammai, and also other deities like Sri Chandrasekharar and Sri Soundra Nayaki, Sri Dakshina Moorthy, Somaskanda Murthy. The following idols are located in the inner prakara:

·        63 Nayanmars

·        Sapta Matas

·        Sura Deva

·        Ganesha

·        Annapoorani-Saraswathi-Gaja Lakshmi

·        Bhairava

·        Saneeswara

·        Viswanathar in the form of Shiva Linga

·        Another Shiva Linga

Temple Opening Time

·        Morning - 7.00 a.m. to 12.00 Noon.

·        Evening - 5.00 p.m. to 8.00 p.m.

Pooja Timings

Pooja Details	Timings
Thiruvanathal	7.00 A.m.
Vila pooja	8.00 A.m.
Kalasanthi	9.00 A.m.
Uchi Kaalam	11.00 Noon
Sayaratchai	6.00 P.m.
Arthasama	8.00 P.m.

Festivals

·        Maha Sivarathiri

·        Margali Thiruvathirai - 10 days

·        Chithirai Chariot Festival - 10 days

·        Thai Chariot Festival - 15 days

·        Theppam Festival - 1 day

·        Navarathri

·        Thiru Karthigai

·        Thai Ammavasai

·        Aadi Ammavasai

·        Sivarathiri

·        Kantha Sasti

Contact

Arulmigu Vilva Vananatha Swamy Temple,

Kadayam - 627 415,

Ambasamudram Taluk,

Thirunelveli District

Phone: +91 4634 241 484.

Mobile: +91 90430 51678 / 94873 32842.

Email: kadayamvilvanathartemple@gmail.com

Connectivity

Kadayam is located at about 55 Kms from Thirunelveli, 18 Kms from Tenkasi, 19 Kms from Ambasamudram, 180 Kms from Madurai and 126 Kms from Thiruvananthapuram. Nearest Railway Station is located at Tenkasi. Nearest Airport is located at Madurai and Thiruvananthapuram.