Anileeswarar Thirukurungudi

Anileeswarar Thirukurungudi

Saivite Temples - Tirunelveli District

God

Anileeswarar, facing east

Goddess

Sivakami, facing south

Other Deities

Vinayaka, Balasubramanian, Saneeswara, Navagraha, Chandikeswara

Anileeswarar Thirukurungudi is a small and beautiful east-facing temple with 3 Prakarams. The approach is through a narrow single way concrete road in the west. The gate is followed by a large well-maintained garden on the northern and western sides which forms the outermost Prakaram. The entrance to the next Prakaram is through a small doorway with a mandapam in front. The Navagraha shrine is in this Prakaram. The innermost Prakaram has cloistered mandapams on the south and north sides. The entire campus and the temple have been renovated beautifully in recent times. The location is very beautiful amidst green fields and the mountains of the western ghats in the background. We were told that one of the temple cars of the nearby Thirukurungudi Perumal temple comes here as if to check with Lord Shiva that everything is fine.

Holy Water (Theertham) – Well inside

Sacred Tree (Sthala Vriksham) – No information

History

Anileeswarar Thirukurungudi is an ancient temple as old as the nearby 108 Divya Desam Perumal temple. There are many inscriptions found here around the sanctum sanctorum walls. The details of them are not available as of now. We were told by the priest that the King of Sankadakurichi built the temple, but we are not able to get more authentic details about this as of now.

Legend

An Anil (Squirrel) is believed to have worshiped the Lord here at Anileeswarar Thirukurungudi and hence the name. It is also believed that the lord here stood by the side of Thirumangai Azhwar as he recited his last hymns of Mangalasasanam for Lord Mahavishnu at Thirukurungudi temple.

Directions

Anileeswarar Thirukurungudi is a little more than a kilometer northeast of the 108 Divya Desam Temple of Lord Vishnu. A small road leads to Anileeswarar Thirukurungudi via the Thirumangai Azhwar Shrine. From here the concrete road leading to Anileeswarar Thirukurungudi is narrow and you cannot turn a car around unless the temple gates are open.

Stay and Food

None locally. Closest is Tirunelveli. If you are planning to spend time visiting all the temples in Thirukurungudi you will require a whole day and you can inform Mr.Ramanujam who lives just outside the Perumal temple and officiates there beforehand on 9360548252 or 7667381632 for simple food and accommodation.

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