Ponmanai

Sivalaya Ottam -5

Saivite Temples, Kanyakumari District

God

Thimbaleeswarar, facing east

Goddess

None

Other Deities

Sastha, Naagar, Ganesha

Ponmanai is a small and beautifully located and maintained temple. It is situated amidst rubber plantations, fields and natural forests. The temple has 2 Prakarams and has several trees and flowering plants. The Sanctum Sanctorum is in circular shape with tiled roofs. There is a temple pond in the east of the temple outside the main entrance.

Holy Water (Theertham) – Temple Pond

Sacred Tree (Sthala Vriksham) – No information

History

Ponmanai is an ancient temple. From the symbols of fishes carved in the ceiling of the Prakaram corridor and the fact that there is a dam called Pandyar Dam it is supposed that this temple could have been served by the Pandya Kings at one time.

Legend

Ponmanai is the fifth temple where Bhima dropped the Rudraksha seed to slow down the creature chasing him when he was on a mission to procure its milk for a Yaga.

Directions

Ponmanai is about 4 kilometers south west of Kulasekaram. The road are under repair and narrow in this area. Take care while driving. From the main road the temple is 300 meters away amidst shady plantations.

Stay and Food

None locally. Closest place for food is Kulasekaram, stay is Nagercoil.

Saivite Temples