Kailasanadar Rajapathi

Kailasanadar, Rajapathi

Saivite Temples - Thoothukudi

God

Kailasanadar, facing east

Goddess

Soundarya Nayaki, facing east

Other Deities

Suryan, Adhikara Nandi, Kalathi Vinayakar, Naalvar, 63 Nayanmar, Adhi Kailasanadar, Kalahastheeswara, Muruga with consorts, Bhairava, Navagraha, Chandran. Sanctum Niches – Dakshinamurthy, Lingotbavar, Brahma, Durga, Chandikeswara

Kailasanadar Rajapathi is an east-facing temple situated in a single Prakaram. Entrance is through a large newly constructed 7 tiered Rajagopuram. The temple has been renovated recently and all the structures are new. The Navagrahas here at Kailasanadar Rajapathi are in the form of Shiva Lingams. The main deity is a large Lingam. The Tamiraparani River flows west of the temple. Kailasanadar Rajapathi is the eighth of the Nava (9) Kailasha Temples where Lord Shiva represents one each of the Nine Planets. Here he represents Ketu – shadow planet, South Lunar node of the moon. 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, Muruppanadu (Guru – Jupiter), Thenthiruperai (Budhan – Mercury), Srivaikuntam (Sani – Saturn) and Sernthapoomangalam (Sukran – Venus) in Thoothukudi District.

Holy Water (Theertham) – Palazhi Theertham

Sacred Tree (Sthala Vriksham) – Vilwam (Aegle marmelos)

History

Kailasanadar Rajapathi is as old as the other Nava Kailasha temples. The original ancient temple was destroyed during floods in the Tamiraparani River. Till 2008 the only remnant of this temple that stood was a stone pillar, the rest being washed away, retrieved in several places, and taken to different temples including Then Thiruperai, Ottapidaram, Puraiyoor, Marukaal, and Vaikal Karai. The new one was built up by devotees in recent times. The name Rajapathi comes after the palace of a Pandya King that is said to have been here.

Legend

The eighth of a set of nine flowers floated by Sage Romasa, a disciple of Sage Agastya, from upstream of Tamiraparani landed here and is thus considered the eighth Nava Kailasam Temple. The consecration ceremony of this temple was started the day the Rajagopuram of the Kalahasti Temple fell and hence the installation of Kalahastheeswarar here was performed.

Directions

Kailasanadar Rajapathi is about 25 kilometers southwest of Thoothukudi. At Mukkani on the highway going from Thoothukudi to Tiruchendur take the road going to Eral and cross the Tamiraparani River to reach Kailasanadar Rajapathi. If you are going from Tirunelveli take the left at Kurumbur (40 kms) in the Tiruchendur road and reach Kailasanadar Rajapathi. You can also go from Then Thiruperai via Kurangani.

Stay and Food

None locally. The closest for food and stay are Thoothukudi (25 kms), Tirunelveli (40 km), and Tiruchendur (15kms) depending on your travel plan.

Saivite Temples

Tamilnadu Temples