Yogeeswarar Temple, Putheri, Nagercoil, Kanyakumari
Yogeeswarar
Temple is a Hindu Temple located at Putheri Village near Nagercoil in
Kanyakumari District of Tamilnadu. The Temple is believed to be 500 years old.
Legends
In olden
days, Sastha, as a guardian deity was here on a stone-peeta under the Poolathi
tree. People of the place named him as Poola Udaya Kandan Sastha and erected a
small temple for him. A yogi came to this place, worshipped Sastha and stayed
here for some time and attained Samadhi (salvation) here. On his tomb, an
ant-hill came up. People began worshipping this ant-hill erecting a tall wall
and began to worship the wall itself. As the devotees felt a Shiva aspect on
the wall, named it Yogeeswarar and continued worships. As there was a Puttru
(ant-hill) where the Yogi was in the past, the place is named in Puttrur which
later changed as Putheri.
The
Temple
The
Temple covers area of about one acre. There are shrines for Yogeeswarar, Nayinar.
Poola Udaya Kandan Sastha and Bhoothathan in the Temple. There is a hall for doing Vazhipadu.
The Temple doesn’t have tower, flag post and other structures attributed to normal
temples. There is a 22 feet tall wall in the open space. On the top of the wall
there is a form as if a Yogi is lying. Poola Udaya Kandan Sastha is in a
separate shrine. He is in the form of a Peeta (a seat) and his idol is behind
this seat.
Temple
Opening Time
The
temple is open from 6.30 a.m. to 7.30 a.m. and 6.30 p.m. to 8.30 p.m. During
other hours, the devotee can worship the Lord from outside also.
Festivals
Chithirai
New Year, Guru Pooja for Yogeeswara, Vaikasi Visagam and Panguni Uthiram are
festivals celebrated in this temple with much fanfare. On all Saturdays in the Vazhipadu
hall, Bhajanai are held. On the Panguni Uthiram day in March-April, Yogeeswara
is taken in procession on a horse. On the Friday following the Panguni Uthiram
in March-April, the walls are painted with red sand. A festival called Kan
Thirappu – Opening the Eyes- is celebrated in the evening that day.
Prayers
The sand
on the wall being worshipped as presiding deity is offered as Prasad to the
devotees. Consuming a little of the Prasad with water would bless the devotee
with a child, is the faith. Those blessed carry Kavadi to Yogeeswarar wearing
saffron clothes. Rice is offered as Nivedhana during the daily puja to the
Lord. Special pujas are performed to Lord Yogeeswara and Sastha on Vaikasi
Visakam (May-June) day, when a Nivedhana prepared from mango, jack fruit raw
rice and sugar named Mambal (Mango milk) is offered to the Lord.
Contact
Yogeeswarar
Temple,
Putheri,
Nagercoil,
Kanyakumari
District
Phone: + 91 4652 275 230
Mobile: +91 94871 01770.
Connectivity
The
Temple is located at about 7 Kms from Nagercoil, 5 Kms from Nagercoil Bus
Stand, 5 Kms from Nagercoil Railway Station, 25 Kms from Kanyakumari and 77 Kms
from Thiruvananthapuram. The Temple is located at a walkable distance from the
Bus Stop. Nearest Railway Station is located at Nagercoil and Nearest Airport
is located at Thiruvananthapuram.
