Kangalanathar Temple, Aazhiyur, Nagapattinam

Kangalanathar Temple, Aazhiyur, Nagapattinam

Kangalanathar Temple is a Hindu Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva located at Aazhiyur Village near Kilvelur Town in Kilvelur Taluk in Nagapattinam District of Tamil Nadu. Presiding Deity is called as Kangalanathar and Mother is called as Karpagavalli. The Temple is considered as Thevara Vaippu Sthalam as Devaram hymns had a mention about this Temple. The Temple is also called as Aazhi Kadambanur and is considered as one of the Pancha Kadamba Sthalams.

Legends

Lord Muruga annihilated Sura Padman, his brothers and his army to safeguard Devas. Due to the killings, he acquired Veerahathi Dosha. Due to the Dosha, Lord Muruga prayed to Lord Shiva for relief. Lord Shiva advised Lord Murugan to worship him at Kilvelur, While worshipping Lord Shiva at Kilvelur, Lord Murugan installed five Shiva Lingas around Kilvelur and worshipped Lord Shiva to get rid of the sin of killing the demons during Sura Samhara. Hence these temples are collectively called as Pancha Kadamba Sthalams. Pidari Amman helped Lord Murugan to do his worship without any disturbances. It is also believed that Goddess Pidari worshipped Lord Shiva here.

Pancha Kadamba Sthalams are;

·        Kailasanathar Temple, Agarakadambanur, Nagapattinam

·        Chozheeswaram Udayar Temple, Ilamkadambanur, Nagapattinam

·        Kangalanathar Temple, Aazhiyur, Nagapattinam

·        Viswanathar Temple, Kadampara Vazhkai, Nagapattinam

·        Naanmaraiyurar Temple, Perumkadambanur, Nagapattinam

The Temple

The Temple is facing towards east with an unfinished Rajagopuram. It has single prakaram enclosed within compound walls. There is a Vinayagar shrine immediately after the entrance. Balipeedam and Nandhi Mandapam can be found facing the sanctum. The Sanctum Sanctorum consists of Maha Mandapam, Artha Mandapam and Sanctum. Presiding Deity is called as Kangalanathar and is facing east. He is housed in the sanctum in the form of Lingam.

Mother is called as Karpagavalli. She is housed in a separate south facing shrine in the Maha Mandapam. There are shrines for Pralayam Katha Vinayagar, Lord Murugan with his consorts Valli & Deivanai, Gaja Lakshmi, Bhairava and Surya can be found in the prakaram. There is a shrine for Pidari Amman called as Netri Kan Amman in the Temple premises. She is facing towards west.

Temple Opening Time

The Temple remains open from 06.00 AM to 12.00 Noon and 04.00 PM to 08.30 PM.

Literary Mention

The Temple is considered as Thevara Vaippu Sthalam as Devaram hymns sung by Appar and Sundarar had a mention about this Temple. The Temple is mentioned in 6^th Thirumurai in 70^th Patikam in 7^th Song by Appar and 7^th Thirumurai in 12^th Patikam in 7^th Song by Sundarar.

Appar:

வீழிமிழலை வெண்காடு வேங்கூர்

வேதிகுடி விசயமங்கை வியலூர்

ஆழி யகத்தியான் பள்ளி அண்ணாமலை

ஆலங்காடும் அரதைப்பெரும்பாழி

பழனம் பனந்தாள் பாதாளம்

பராய்த்துறை பைஞ்ஞீலி பனங்காட்டூர் தண்

காழி கடல் நாகைக் காரோணத்தும்

கயிலாய நாதனையே காணலாமே.

Sundarar:

ஈழநாட்டு மாதோட்டம் தென்னாட்டு இராமேச்சுரம்

சோழ நாட்டுத் துருத்தி நெய்த்தானம் திருமலை

ஆழியூரன நாட்டுக்கெல்லாம் அணியாகிய

கீழையில் அரனார்க்கு இடம் கிள்ளிகுடி யதே

Contact

Kangalanathar Temple,

Aazhiyur, Kilvelur Taluk,

Nagapattinam District – 611 104

Phone: +91 97104 95026

Connectivity

The Temple is located at about 400 meters from Aazhiyur Cycle Company Bus Stop, 3 Kms from Thirukkanangudi, 4 Kms from Kilvelur, 5 Kms from Sikkal, 5 Kms from Sikkal Railway Station, 5 Kms from Kilvelur Railway Station, 10 Kms from Nagapattinam, 16 Kms from Thiruvarur, 17 Kms from Thiruvarur Junction Railway Station and 138 Kms from Trichy Airport. The Temple is situated on Thiruvarur to Nagapattinam Route between Kilvelur and Sikkal.

Location