Kailasanadar Narthampoondi

Kailasanadar, Narthampoondi

Saivite Temples, Thiruvannamalai District

God

Kailasanadar, facing east

Goddess

Periyanayaki, facing east

Other Deities

Ganesha and Murugan at the entrance, Kothala Vinayaka, Kasi Viswanadar, Venugopala with consorts, Garudan, Anjaneyar, Muruga with consorts, Sornabhairavar, Sapthakannigal, Navagraha. Sanctum Niches – Ganesha, Dakshinamurthy, Lingotbavar, Brahma, Durga, Chandikeswara

Kailasanadar Narthampoondi is a beautiful old east facing temple which has been renovated in recent times. A large 5 tiered Rajagopuram welcomes you at the entrance in the south. As you enter, facing you is Dakshinamurthy. Kailasanadar Narthampoondi has a large and spacious Prakaram housing the Sanctum Sanctorum and the shrines. The large courtyard in the east is followed by the flagtsaff, balipeedam and Nandi. A Mahamantapam, followed by Mukha Mantapam and the Ardha Mantapam is before the Sanctum Sanctorum of the main deity. A Mantapam is also present before the Goddess shrine. This is one of the Saptha (seven) Kailasha temples of Lord Shiva in the southern banks of Cheyyar River. The others are Shiva temples at Thamaraipakkam, Vasudevampattu, Thenpandripattu, Pazhangovil, Karapoondi and Mandakulathur.

Holy Water (Theertham) – No information

Sacred Tree (Sthala Vriksham) – Elanthai (Zizyphus jujuba)

History

A large number of stone inscriptions have been found here at Kailasanadar Narthampoondi. As mentioned in them, the temple was built by Sambuvarayar (12th Century CE) and contributed to by Hoysala Kings. The Vijayanagar kings later contributed to the upgradation and maintenance of Kailasanadar Narthampoondi.

Legend

The Lord here at Kailasanadar Narthampoondi is believed to have been worshiped by Sage Narada, who came here to get relief from a curse by Daksha. The place was then called Naradam Poondi and later became Narthampoondi. Lord Muruga is believed to have built the Saptha Kailasha temples in the southern banks of Cheyyar River to counter the sin of injuring seven Sages (Puthirandan, Puruhudan, Pandurangan, Bodhavan, Bodhan, Koman and Vaman) performing penance in the hills in the region with his spear (Vel). Kailasanadar Narthampoondi is said to be the fifth in this series. This event happened in a quest to create a Theertham for his Mother Parvati to perform ablutions for the Shiva Lingam she created out of earth at Vazhapandal. Goddess Parvati is also believed to have installed and worshiped the Shiva Lingam here at Kailasanadar Narthampoondi. According to the same legend Muruga is also believed to have created seven temples in the northern banks of the river which are called Saptha Kandams.

Directions

Kailasanadar Narthampoondi is situated about 5 kilometers left of Naidumangalam Junction when you go from Thiruvannamalai towards Polur.

Stay and Food

None locally. Closest is Thiruvannamalai.

Saivite Temples

Tamilnadu Temples