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;
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.
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.