Kailasanadar Nedungudi

Saivite Temples, Pudhukottai District

God

Kailasanadar, facing east

Goddess

Prasanna Nayaki, facing south

Other Deities

To be updated

Kailasanadar Nedungudi is situated on a small mound and is reachable through a flight of steps. It is an east facing temple with a tall 5 tiered Rajagopuram. Girivalam (circumambulation of the hill) is also done here on the full moon days. There is a temple tank below the hill on its northern side. The tall wooden gates of the Gopuram are beautifully carved with several deities and incidents including the marriage of Lord Shiva, Kannappa Nayanar and more.

Holy Water (Theertham) – Temple tank

Sacred Tree (Sthala Vriksham) – Vilwam (Aegle marmelos)

History

Kailasanadar Nedungudi is an ancient temple where a 13th Century CE stone inscription have been found mentioning the service rendered to the Goddess shrine by the Pandya Kings.

Legend

Two Asura brothers (Perunjeevi and Chiranjeevi) found this place with dense Vilwa trees and the elder one sent the younger one to bring a Shiva Lingam from Kasi. As it took time for him to return the elder one made a Lingam from the earth here at Kailasanadar Nedungudi and started his penance. Angered at this the younger is believed to have reported to the Lord who appeared and made both the Lingams equally important. One is called Kailasanadar and the other is Kasinathar.

Directions

Kailasanadar Nedungudi is about 30 kilometers south of Pudukottai and can be reached via Arimalam and also from Thirumeyyam. Kailasanadar Nedungudi is about 16 kilometers west of Aranthangi.

Stay and Food

None locally. Closest is Pudukottai.