Thursday, January 7, 2016

Nellaiappar Temple – Kanthimathi Shrine

Nellaiappar Temple – Kanthimathi Shrine
The entrance of Kanthimathi Amman Temple is adorned with a beautiful Raja Gopuram (tower). The tower was built in the year of 1626 AD. You can also find two small shrines of Lord Ganesha and Lord Muruga on either side of the tower entrance. Once you enter the temple, you can find "Unjal Mandapam", a hall where the religious discourses happen.
On the left side of the hall, there is open space and to its right side, there is temple tank. The tank is very popular in Tirunelveli and it is named as 'Pottramarai'. It is believed that Lord Shiva is in the form of water and Lord Brahma came here with golden flower (Pottramarai).
Towards the main shrine of Kanthimathi, there is flagstaff (Kodi maram) and Nandi idol. On the left side, there is Aayiram Kal Mandapam aka thousand pillared hall. However, there are not thousand pillars in this hall. After passing through the flagstaff and moving towards the main shrine, you can find another small mandapa. The main shrine has Goddess Kanthimathi, the consort of Lord Nellaiappar (Shiva). She is in standing posture with two hands carrying lotus and parrot on her left hand.
On the entrance of her shrine, there are idols of Ganga and Yamuna. The corridor (prakara) surrounding the Kanthimathi shrine has the small shrines for Lord Ganesha, Muruga, Chandikeswara, and Shanmuga (Arumuga Nayinaar) in Utsav form. There is another big corridor surrounding Kanthimathi shrine.

The big corridor has another tank named 'Karu Mari' tank. The legend is that the saint Durvasa cursed a king named Indiraththuiman to become elephant. The elephant took bath in this tank to get rid of the curse and became human being again. There is a small shrine for Lord Ganesha near the tank.