Chidambareswarar Kulasekharapatnam

Chidambareswarar, Kulasekharapatnam

Saivite Temples - Thoothukudi

God

Chidambareswarar, facing east

Goddess

Sivakami, facing south

Other Deities

Adhikara Nandi, Surya, Kanni Vinayaka, Muruga with consorts, Saneeswaran, Bhairava, Nataraja, Naagar, Kailasanadar with consort. Sanctum Niches – Dakshinamurthy

Chidambareswarar Kulasekharapatnam is a small east-facing temple with an entrance from the west. The entrance is a large tiled roof and wooden structure with concrete walls. A single Prakaram houses all the shrines and the sanctum sanctorum. The Goddess shrine is south facing. The main deity is a large Lingam. The seashore is close by towards the east. A Kailasanadar Idol with consort from a nearby temple is also present here as it has not been functioning for some reason.

Holy Water (Theertham) – No information

Sacred Tree (Sthala Vriksham) – No information

History

Chidambareswarar Kulasekharapatnam is an old temple, as old as the nearby Kachikonda Pandeeswarar temple. Historical information is not available as of now. The town had been in existence as a major port town around 1st Century CE as is evident from historical references. The town was renamed after Maravarman Kulasekharapandyan I (1268-1301). Marco Polo (1254 – 1324 CE) describes the Pandyan port city of Kulasekharapatnam as a city that all the ships that come from the west, as from Hormos, Kis, Aden, and all Arabia, touch, laden with horses and other things for sale bringing a great concourse of people and a great business is done in this city. A literary work by Deiva Sigamani Kavirayar of Kulasekharapatnam sings the praise of the goddesses Aramvalartha Nayaki (Kachikonda Pandeeswarar temple nearby) and Sivakami of this temple.

Legend

The original temple is believed to have been built by a trader who used to visit the Chidambaram Temple and who was prevented to do so once because of bad weather. The Lord appeared in his dream and told him to follow a trail of ants from his godown. This led him to an anthill under which was found a Shiva Lingam. He then built the Chidambareswarar Kulasekharapatnam temple for the lord of Chidambaram here.

Directions

Chidambareswarar Kulasekharapatnam is in the southern part of Kulasekharapatnam. Kulasekharapatnam is about 13 kilometers south of Tiruchendur on the East Coast Road.

Stay and Food

None locally. The closest is Tiruchendur where there are many hotels, lodges, and restaurants for a comfortable stay and good food. Tiruchendur is about 40 kilometers south of Thoothukudi and 55 kilometers southeast of Tirunelveli. It is a well-connected coastal town.

Saivite Temples

Tamilnadu Temples