Sarvatheertheswarar Theerthandadhanam

Sarvatheertheswarar, Theerthandadhanam

Saivite Temples - Ramanathapuram District

God

Sarvatheertheswarar, facing west

Goddess

Periyanayaki Amman, facing east

Other Deities

Vinayaka, Subramanya, Perumal with Sreedevi and Bhoodevi, Vinayaka, Muruga with consorts, Navagraha, Bhairava, Aadhi Lingam, Suryan, Swayambu Valampuri Vinayaka, Ayyanar, Naagar, Rama Baktha Anjaneya, Vinayaka, Dhandayudhapani. Sanctum Niches – Durga, Chandikeswara, Lingotbavar, Dakshinamurthi

Sarvatheertheswarar Theerthandadhanam is a west-facing temple with a 5 tiered Rajagopuram at the entrance on the west side. The single prakaram housing all the shrines and the sanctum is a beautiful one nicely tiled and filled with flowering plants. The sanctum sanctorum of the main deity faces west and the lord is a 5 feet tall Lingam. The shrine of the goddess is separate in front of the sanctum sanctorum of the main deity and in the southwest side. The theertham well here is called Mandharai Kinar. The seashore, also a theertham, is a short distance east of the temple. A temple tank called Sarva Theertham Tank is on the north side of the Temple.

Holy Water (Theertham) – Sarva Theertham, Varuna Theertham, section of the Sea nearby

Sacred Tree (Sthala Vriksham) – Padhiri (Stereospermum chelonoides), Vilwam (Aegle marmelos)

History

Sarvatheertheswarar Theerthandadhanam is an old temple that has been completely rebuilt in recent times. An inscription belonging to King Parakrama Pandya (regnal years 1315 to 1333 CE) has been found here. The information from the inscription is not available as of now.

Legend

Lord Rama while going south to reach Sri Lanka passed through here and is believed to have rested here at Sarvatheertheswarar Theerthandadhanam. Varuna, the god of weather, is believed to have created the Varuna Theertham to slake his thirst. Since Lord Rama received the Theertham here the place came to be called Theerthandadhanam. Sage Agastya who came to know of Rama’s visit came here to advise him on the importance of performing rites to the forefathers and also to seek the blessings of Lord Shiva to kill Ravana who was a staunch Saivite Devotee. Heeding this advice Rama worshiped Lord Shiva here at Sarvatheertheswarar Theerthandadhanam and performed the necessary rituals. It is believed that bathing in the sea provides the benefit of purifying oneself in all the Theerthams of the World and the lord is named Sarva (all) Theertheeswarar – (Lord of all Theerthams).

Directions

Sarvatheertheswarar Theerthandadhanam is 60 kilometers north of Ramanathapuram via Thondi in the East Coast Road going towards Manalmelkudi.

Stay and Food

None locally. The closest is Ramanathapuram.

Saivite Temples

Tamilnadu Temples