Kanaga Sabapathy Temple, Karisulndamangalam,
Thirunelveli
Kanaga
Sabapathy Temple is dedicated to Hindu God Shiva located at Karisulndamangalam
Village near Cheranmahadevi in Thirunelveli District of Tamilnadu. This is one
of the Pancha Natarajar Sthalams in Thirunelveli District. The sthapathy
who created the Chidambaram Natarajar idol created five idols including this.
The others are: Kattarimangalam, Mela Karuvelankulam and Chepparai.
Legends
Pancha Nataraja Sthalams:
In Chola
Nadu lived a sthapathy by name Namasivaya Muthu. He made five Nataraja idols
and had them installed in 5 temples. Thus Lord Sri Nataraja’s ‘Ananda Dance’
has been represented through these five Pancha loka idols installed in
Chidambaram, Chepparai, Kattarimangalam, Karisulndamangalam and
Karuvelankulam.
Nataraja Abode in Karisulndamangalam:
There is
a story to the making of five Nataraja idols by one sthapathy. During that
period, Kattarimangalam was ruled by Veera Pandiyan who was related to ‘Muzhuthum
Kanda Rama Pandiyan’. When Veera Pandiyan visited Chepparai he saw the idol of
Lord Nataraja. Extremely impressed, he requested Rama Pandiyan for a similar
idol. Rama Pandiyan called for the sthapathy, gave him enough copper and asked
him to prepare two identical vigrahas. He wanted to give one to Kattarimangalam
and the other to Swamy Nellaiyappar temple.
The two
idols were ready. King Veera Pandiyan was highly pleased and impressed by the
beauty of the vigrahas. He decided that such beautiful idols should not be
available to anyone else. So he chopped off the right hand of the sthapathy;
then the two vigrahas were taken by the king’s army. One group went to
Kattarimangalam. The other group proceeded to Nellai , but could not proceed
because of floods in the river; so they threw away the Vigraha into the river
and returned when the floods receded. However the villagers of
Karisulndamangalam took the idol and installed it in their village. It has been
worshipped since.
In the
meanwhile Rama Pandiyan came to know of his poor stapathy’s loss, the chopping
of the right hand. An enraged Rama Pandiyan waged war against Veera Pandiyan,
defeated him—and had both his hands chopped off. Rama Pandiyan worshiped the
Sri Nataraja Vigraha and wanted to take it to his own place. But none could
move the idol. That night the Lord appeared in the King’s dream and said that
he wanted to dwell in that fertile village which was full of black clouds ; he
asked the king to build a temple there. Then the Lord disappeared. The king
built a temple there and installed the Vigraha in Karisulndamangalam.
The
Temple
The Siva
temple is situated at the eastern corner of Agraharam. The chief deity here is
called Sundareswarar. The Devi here is known as Sundarambikai. This Amman is the
new Amman. The nose of the old Amman was slightly damaged. When arrangements
were being made to perform Kumbabishekam in 1957, the Amman appeared in the
dream of Archakar and showed him a place in the temple where an idol was hidden
in the earth. When that place was dug subsequently the new Amman idol and a
Vinayagar idol were found.
In
ancient inscriptions it was referred to as ‘Kanaviniya Pandeswaramudaiya
Nayanar’. There are ten inscriptions. Of these six belongs to the times of
Pandyas. This temple is believed to be built by Maravarman Sundara Pandiyan in
1216 AD. The kings of that period usually name the Lord after their
name. In 1623 AD the village Sabha agreed to donate certain paddy fields
to the Siva Temple. In 1687 AD functions like Karsana Kumbabishekam were
celebrated. Inscription belonging to 1814 AD, 1844 AD etc., give
information about the temple’s properties—such as land and other items. Last Kumbabishekam
was performed in Uthiradam Nakshathra on 27.06.2002.
Festivals
Sri Nataraja Abishekam
|
Chithirai
|
Thiruvonam
|
|
2
|
Sri Nataraja Abishekam
|
Aani
|
Uthiram
|
3
|
Varudabhishekam
|
Aani
|
Uthiradam
|
4
|
Amman Valaikappu
|
Aadi
|
Pooram
|
5
|
Sri Nataraja Abishekam
|
Avani
|
Chathurthasi
|
6
|
Sri Nataraja Abishekam
|
Purattasi
|
Chathurthasi
|
7
|
10 days Sri Swamy, Ambal Abishekam
|
Purattasi
|
During Navarathri
|
8
|
7 days Aaradhana & Soora Samharam &
Thirukalyanam
|
Aippasi
|
Kandha Shasti
|
9
|
1008 Deepa Vazhibadu
|
Karthikai
|
Karthikai Natchatram
|
10
|
Sri Natarajar Abishekam & Thiru Veethi Ula
|
Margazhi
|
Thiruvathirai
|
11
|
Sri Natarajar Abishekam
|
Masi
|
Chathurthasi
|
12
|
Annabishekam
|
Masi
|
Pournami
|
13
|
Shiva Raathiri
|
Masi
|
4 Kaala Abishekam during night
|
14
|
Dharma Sastha Abishekam & Aaradhana
|
Panguni
|
Uthiram
|
Contact
Kanaga
Sabapathy Temple,
Karisulndamangalam,
Thirunelveli District
Mobile: +91 99435 55866
Connectivity
Karisulndamangalam
is located at about 3 Kms from Pattamadai, 5 Kms from Cheranmahadevi, 12 Kms
from Veeravanallur, 30 Kms from Thirunelveli, 191 Kms from Madurai, 75 Kms from
Thoothukudi and 150 Kms from Thiruvananthapuram. From Tirunelveli, buses every
15minutes to Pathamadai (Ambai / Papanasam) bound buses. Take an auto from
Pathamadai to reach Karisulntha Mangalam( 2kms). Auto will cost Rs. 80 (to and
fro). Bus 36D runs between Tirunelveli and Karisulntha Mangalam. Nearest
Railway Station is located at Cheranmahadevi and Veeravanallur. Nearest Airport
is located at Madurai, Thoothukudi and Thiruvananthapuram.
References
