Mandiranadar Thirupalaikudi

Mandiranadar, Thirupalaikudi

Saivite Temples - Ramanathapuram District

God

Mandiranadar, facing east

Goddess

Nallamangai Ambal, facing east

Other Deities

Surya with consort, Kannimoola Ganapathi, Muruga with consorts, Saneeswara, Bhairava, Chandran. Sanctum niches – Dakshinamurthy

Mandiranadar Thirupalaikudi is an east-facing temple situated in a single Prakaram. The entrance is through a gate in the east. In front of the temple is a large pond. Mandiranadar Thirupalaikudi is built on an elevated platform. The sanctum sanctorum and the Vimaanam are grand structures. The Dakshinamurthy idol in the sanctum niche is a beautiful idol. A balipeedam and a beautiful old Nandi are in front of the steps that go up to the Sanctum Sanctorum. A Mahamandapam and Ardha Mandapam are there in front of the sanctum of the main deity. The goddess is in a small niche on the south side of the main deity in the Maha Mandapam. There is an old and dilapidated shrine just outside the wall on the south side of Mandiranadar Thirupalaikudi. This could probably be the shrine of the goddess indicating that this has been a large temple in the olden days.

Holy Water (Theertham) – Temple Pond

Sacred Tree (Sthala Vriksham) – Vanni (Prosopis cineraria)

History

Mandiranadar Thirupalaikudi is an ancient temple as is evident from the numerous inscriptions on the base of the sanctum sanctorum walls and the architectural style. Historical information is not available as of now.

Legend

Lord Rama is believed to have worshiped Lord Shiva here Mandiranadar Thirupalaikudi.

Directions

Mandiranadar Thirupalaikudi is about 25 kilometers north of Ramanathapuram. Mandiranadar Thirupalaikudi can be reached by taking a left towards the west at Thirupalaikudi on the East Coast Road going towards Thondi.

Stay and Food

None locally. The closest is Ramanathapuram.

Saivite Temples

Tamilnadu Temples