Marthandeeswarar Eraniel

Saivite Temples, Kanyakumari District

God

Marthandeeswarar, facing east

Goddess

None

Other Deities

Ganesha, Naagar, Sastha

Marthandeeswarar Eraniel is a small east facing temple with two Prakarams. The temple has entrances from both west and east. A large temple tank is present south of the temple. Marthandeeswarar Eraniel was an important place of worship for the royalty, being opposite to the ancient ruined palace of Eraniel.

Holy Water – Temple tank

Sacred Tree (Sthala Vriksham) – No information

History

Marthandeeswarar Eraniel is an ancient temple built by King Vanchi Marthanda Varma while visiting and living in the palace opposite the temple. Eraniel was once the Capital of the Venad Dynasty. Eraniel is the corrupted name of Hiranyasimhanalloor. Though there is no record of when the palace was built, it is believed that it could have been constructed about 500 years back. In 1601, during the reign of King Ravi Varma Kulashekhara, the Padmanabhapuram Palace was completed and the Capital was shifted from Eraniel to Padmanabhapuram. During 1799, Velu Thambi Dalawa started a riot from this Eraniel Palace against King Raja Balarama Varma and his Minister Jayanthan Shankaran Nampoothiri. Eraniel was also called as Ranasinganallur and ahs historical conne tions to the rulers fo Ay, Pandya, Chera and Chola before coming under of the control of the Venad Kings. Eraniel Samba a variety of rice grown here used to be popular in the ancient days along with the weavers of Chitrapada Patttu specially meant for the Royalty. The original two storeyed palace in ruins today consists of three parts – Padippura, Poomukham and the Vasanta Mantapam. There used to be excellent wooden carvings here which are said to have been looted and taken abroad along with many old paintings.

Legend

Marthandeeswarar Eraniel was built by King Marthanda Varma when his way was blocked by the flooded Valiyaru river during his regular visit to the Sivagiri Shiva Temple a little distance away. This small temple is still existing below a small hillock.

Directions

Marthandeeswarar Eraniel is 14 kilometers west of Nagercoil. You can take a left at Thottiyodu before Villukuri temple and take the road going to Thingal Nagar. Or you can take the road to Eraniel from Thucalay (4.5 kilometers). Marthandeeswarar Eraniel is about 1.5 kilometers east of Eraniel Railway Station.

Stay and Food

None locally. Closest place for food is Thucalay and stay is Nagercoil.

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