Kailasanadar Murappanadu

Kailasanadar, Murappanadu

Saivite Temples - Thoothukudi

God

Kailasanadar, facing east

Goddess

Sivakami, facing south

Other Deities

Adhikara Nandi, Surya, Juradevar, Sapthamadar, 63 Nayanmar, Mahaganapathi (3 idols), Subramanya with consorts, Saneeswara, Kalabhairava, Veerabhairava

Kailasanadar Murappanadu is an east-facing temple with an entrance gateway mandapam in the east. There are 2 Prakarams. The inner Prakaram houses the sanctum sanctorum and the shrines. The Nandi here is seen with the head of a Horse, unlike any other temple. There are 2 Bhairavas here, one with the dog mount (Kala Bhairava) and without a mount (Veera Bhairava). The Tamiraparani runs east of the temple in a north-to-south direction. This is one of the Navakailaya Sthalams on the banks of the Tamiraparani River. Kailasanadar Murappanadu is the fifth of the Nava (9) Kailasha Temples where Lord Shiva represents one each of the Nine Planets. Here he represents Guru (Jupiter). The others are in Papanasam (Sun), Cheranmahadevi (Chandran – Moon), Kodaganallur (Mars), Kunnathur (Raaghu – shadow planet, North Lunar node of the moon) in Tirunelveli District and, Srivaikuntam (Sani – Saturn), Thenthiruperai (Budhan – Mercury), Rajapathi (Ketu – shadow planet, South Lunar node of the moon) and Sernthapoomangalam (Sukran – Venus) in Thoothukudi District.

Holy Water (Theertham) – Kasi Theertham section of Tamiraparani River

Sacred Tree (Sthala Vriksham) – Pala (Jack fruit – Artocarpus heterophyllus)

History

Kailasanadar Murappanadu is an ancient temple as is evident from the numerous inscriptions on the walls of the sanctum sanctorum. Some of these are said to belong to the Vijayanagar Period. The details of the inscriptions are not available as of now.

Legend

A Chola King had a daughter who was borne with the head of a horse. He prayed to the lord here at Kailasanadar Murappanadu and the horse qualities of the child were absorbed by the Nandi. This is the legend behind the Nandi here with a touch of resemblance to a horse’s head. Sage Markhandeya, Sage Mrikhanda, and Lord Rama have worshiped the lord here at Kailasanadar Murappanadu. Sage Romasa, a disciple of Sage Agastya, was blessed with the vision of the Lord as Guru (Dakshinamurthy) here at Kailasanadar Murappanadu.

Directions

Kailasanadar Murappanadu is 13 kilometers of Tirunelveli off the Toothukudi Highway. Take the left before crossing the Tamiraparani River Bridge when going from Tirunelveli and the temple is outside the Murappanadu Village on the north side. Before this is a Perumal Temple also.

Stay and Food

None locally. The closest for food and stay is Tirunelveli.

Saivite Temples

Tamilnadu Temples