Palavadi Sastha Temple, Ambasamudram, Thirunelveli
Palavadi
Sastha is one of the oldest Sastha shrines located near the banks of Tamirabarani. This
beautiful temple is near Ambasamudram in Thirunelveli District of Tamilnadu. Sastha
is Swayambu here who is very much pleased in sitting under a pala maram (jack
fruit tree). Swami doesn’t have any swaroopam here. Instead he is worshipped
in the form of a lingam. There are three lingams i.e. Sastha in centre and on
either sides Poorna and Pushakalai - His consorts.
An idol
of an elephant, his Vahana is found in front of Swami. There is a peetam nearby
Sastha which is Lord Boothanatha. The temple also houses a huge figure of
Parivara. Though there is a temple compound, Sastha is worshipped in the open
space - just under the shelter of the Jack tree.. (Jack =Pala; i.e. Palavadi) without
any sanctum sanctorum and Swami prefers to be in rain and sun than
inside the Garbha graham.
The
interesting and amazing fact about this temple - during any special puja to the
Lord, after the puja, if he is satisfied with the worship, exactly three leaves
from the Jack tree fall on the figures of Sastha-Poorna and Pushkala. Ambasamudram
is 37 Kms from Tenkasi, 12 Kms from Veeravanallur, 47 Kms from Thirunelveli,
206 Kms from Madurai and 143 Kms from Thiruvananthapuram. Nearest Railway
Station is located at Ambasamudram. Nearest Airport is located Madurai and
Thiruvananthapuram.
