Poovananadar Kovilpatti

Poovananadar, Kovilpatti

Saivite Temples - Thoothukudi

God

Poovananadar, facing east

Goddess

Shenbagavalli Amman, facing east

Other Deities

Pancha Mukha Vinayaka, Arumaga with consorts, Adhikara Nandi, Surya, Juradevar, 63 Nayanmar, Kanni Vinayaka, Naalvar, Santhana Kuravargal (Meikandar, Arunandi Sivacharyar, Maraignanasambandar, Umapathi Sivacharyar), Mahalakshmi, Saraswathi, Sahasralingam, Panchalingams with consorts, Muruga with consorts, Saneeswara, Navaneetha Krishnan, Agastya, Kala Bhairava, Navagraha, Chandran. Sanctum niches of main deity – Dakshinamurthy, Lingotbavar, Durga, Chandikeswara. Sanctum niche of goddess – Kriyasakthi, Chandikeswari

Poovananadar Kovilpatti is a large east-facing temple with separate east-facing sanctums and entrances for the main deity and goddess. Goddess Shenbagavalli is considered the important deity here. The Rajagopuram in front of the main deity is 7 tiered. The Goddess shrine has a smaller 3 tiered gopuram. The entrance is open through the smaller gopuram leading to the Goddess shrine. Both the god and goddess have a Nandi facing them. The Sthala Vriksham is in between the sanctums in front. The tall goddess idol here is in standing form, but her garments and decoration are always done as if she is in a sitting posture. The temple has a well-maintained single Prakaram that houses all the shrines in it. The outer Prakaram is outside the compound wall and is more of streets and parking space. To the north of the temple is a beautiful temple tank situated at a lower level than the temple.

Holy Water (Theertham) – Athiyar (River), Temple tank.

Sacred Tree (Sthala Vriksham) – Kala (Carissa spinarum)

History

Poovananadar Kovilpatti is an old temple that is said to have been renovated by one King called Ullamudayan in the 10th Century CE. This is probably one of his title names or a local king. We are unable to identify him with clarity.

Legend

Poovananadar Kovilpatti is believed to have been built by a King called Shenbagan, a king of Vembakottai, who named the goddess Shenbagavalli. Sage Agastya is believed to have worshiped the lord here to relieve himself of the curse of killing two demons Vilvalan and Vadhabi. Two snakes, Chandungan and Paduman, are believed to have worshiped the Lord here with flowers from the garden and hence his name is Poo (Flower in Tamil) Vana (forest) Nadar. Another version is that the flowers were called Poovan (Schleichera oleosa?) and hence the name is Poovananadar.

Directions

Poovananadar Kovilpatti is inside Kovilpatti town. Kovilpatti is 50 kilometers north of Tirunelveli in the National Highway 44 going to Madurai and above, and 64 kilometers northwest of Thoothukudi.

Stay and Food

Kovilpatti has a few restaurants for snacks. The recommended place for stay would be Tirunelveli.

Saivite Temples

Tamilnadu Temples