Kulasekaranadar Tenkasi

Saivite Temples, Tirunelveli District

God

Kulasekaranadar, facing east

Goddess

Kuzhalvaimozhi Ambal, facing east

Other Deities

Outer Prakaram – Goddess shrine, Bhairava. Inner Prakaram – Adhikara Nandi, Surya, Kanni Vinayaka, Sastha, Shanmuga with consorts, Saneeswara, Chandran. Sanctum Niches – Dakshinamurthy, Mahavishnu, Brahma, Durga, Chandikeswara.

Kulasekaranadar Tenkasi is a small east-facing temple with a beautiful entrance mandapam which is an unfinished gopuram. The small carvings on both sides of this gopuram are very intricate. Of particular mention would be the ones of Kali, Rama, Anjaneya, Vinayaka with the legs of a tiger, dancing women, a pregnant woman, Oorthuva Thandavar, Krishna playing the flute, Mahavishnu, Arumuga on a peacock, Mahavishnu on Garuda, and several others. There are Yaali pillars and other pillars with carvings of Veerabadhra in the Mandapam before the sanctum sanctorum. The temple is situated in 2 Prakarams. The outer Prakaram houses the sanctum sanctorum of the lord and a separate shrine of the Goddess. The sanctum of the main deity has an inner Prakaram around it.

Holy Water (Theertham) – No information

Sacred Tree (Sthala Vriksham) – No information

History

Kulasekaranadar Tenkasi was built by Adiveera Ramapandyan (Regnal years 1564 – 1604) in memory of his father Nelveli Maran also called Kulasekhara Pandyan. Several inscriptions are found on the outer walls of the sanctum sanctorum. The details of the same are not available as of now. The same king also built a Perumal Temple behind.

Legend

A secret underground passage is said to be present connecting Kulasekaranadar Tenkasi with the Kasi Viswanathar Temple.

Directions

Kulasekaranadar Tenkasi is in the south eastern side of Tenkasi Town.

Stay and Food

Tenkasi has several good hotels and restaurants. Kutralam is about 6 kilometers away and has many resorts.

Saivite Temples

Kulasekaranadar, Tenkasi