Masilamaninathar Tarangambadi

Saivite Temples, Nagapattinam District

God

Masilamaninathar, facing east

Goddess

Aramvalartha Nayagi, facing south

Other Deities

Bhairava, Sapthamadhar. We understood that more deities are in a nearby house for safekeeping and awaiting installation.

Masilamaninathar Tarangambadi is an ancient temple on the seashore and is in great danger today due to sea erosion and other natural elements, not to mention the dangers posed by antisocial elements. However some renovation work, albeit using tiles in places(!), was going on when we visited in 2012.

Holy Water (Theertham) – No information

Sacred Tree (Sthala Vriksham) – No information

History

Masilamaninathar Tarangambadi was built in 1306, on a piece of land given by Maravarman Kulasekara Pandyan I. This was obviously a large temple and a large part has been eroded by the sea. The Tsunami of 2004 also washed away a part. A shiva lingam was found washed ashore after the tsunami and is now said to be in the Danborg Museum nearby.

Legend

No information

Directions

Masilamaninathar Tarangambadi (Tranquebar) is easily accessible from the Sirkazhi to Karaikal Road. The town is well marked by boards and is on the seashore, about 29 Kilometers from Sirkazhi.

Stay and Food

None locally. Closest would be Sirkazhi, Mayiladuthurai or Karaikkal.

Saivite Temples

Masilamaninathar, Tarangambadi