Kodeeswarar Temple, Agasthiyar Falls, Papanasam,
Thirunelveli
Kodeeswarar
Temple is dedicated to Hindu God Shiva located very close to Agasthiyar Falls
in Papanasam in Thirunelveli District of Tamilnadu. Presiding Deity is called
as Kodeeswarar and Mother is called as Loka Nayagi Amman. This Temple is
located adjacent to Kalyani Theertham. Apart from Shiva Linga and his consort
Loka Nayaki in separate shrines, the idols of Ganesha, Kartikeya with his
consorts and Agastya are also found in this temple.
There
are some beautiful miniature bas-relief images such as Narsimha, Krishna with
four arms and playing flute, Uma and Maheswarar on Rishabha, etc. on the temple
walls. Such an isolated place was prominent during the Pandya regime itself is
a testimony to that place. The Temple is located at about 4 kms from Papanasam
on the hilly terrain near Agasthiyar falls.
One can
reach the Agasthiyar falls and temple by trekking a distance of 3 Kms. Papanasam
is around 52 Kms from Thirunelveli, 16 Kms from Ambasamudram, 34 Kms from
Tenkasi, 215 Kms from Madurai and 140 Kms from Thiruvananthapuram. Nearest
Railway Station is located at Ambasamudram and Nearest Airport is located at
Madurai and Thiruvananthapuram.