Yogeeswarar Temple, Putheri, Nagercoil, Kanyakumari

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.