Ariyanathaswamy Harikesavanallur

Ariyanathaswamy, Harikesavanallur

Saivite Temples - Tirunelveli District

God

Ariyanathaswamy, facing east

Goddess

Brahanayaki (also called Periyanayaki), facing east

Other Deities

Mukurni Raja Ganapathi, Juradevar, Sapthamadar, Selvavinayakar (2 idols), Kasi Viswanathar, Visalakshi, Muruga with consorts, Naagalingam, Saneeswara, Kubera Lingam, Bhairava, Navagraha, Kuberan, Jeshtadevi. Sanctum niches – Dakshinamurthy, Chandikeswara

Ariyanathaswamy Harikesavanallur is an east-facing temple where the east-facing Goddess sanctum is separate and just outside the main deity’s temple. The main deity here is a tall lingam and the goddess is also tall at about 6 feet including a pedestal. There are 2 prakarams around the main deity’s sanctum. The inner one is covered on top. The outer prakaram has shade-providing trees and flowering plants. A buried idol of Kubera was recovered from the premises in 2007 and has been installed separately outside the entrance to the Mahamantapam. The temple has a temple car. A temple tank is outside the gateway in the east. There are a few idols lying about inside the compound including a beautiful Karthikeya and also a few outside including a Nandi. The Dakshinamurthy here is Medha Dakshinamurthy and is considered as one of the Pancha (five) Dakshinamurthy Sthalam. The others being Andhalanallur, Then Thirupuvanam, Thirupudaimarudur, and Idaikkal.

Holy Water (Theertham) – Temple tank

Sacred Tree (Sthala Vriksham) – Nelli (Indian Gooseberry – Phyllanthus emblica)

History

Ariyanathaswamy Harikesavanallur is an ancient temple and has many inscriptions on the sanctum walls. It is understood that the temple was constructed by Nindraseer Nedumara Pandyan (Koon (Hunchbacked) Pandyan of the 7th Century CE). He was also called Arikesari Parankusa Maravarman and the village received its name from him. Ariyanathaswamy Harikesavanallur was renovated by Jatavaraman Kulasekara Pandyan (1190–1216 CE).

Legend

Ariyanathaswamy Harikesavanallur is considered important due to the presence of Jeshtadevi with her two attendants, also considered as her children. Jyeshta Devi is the opposite of Goddess Lakshmi and considered as her elder sister as she appeared with the poison that came out during the churning of the ocean. Her worship started coming down at the end of the 7th or 8th century CE as she is associated with misfortune. Very few temples have them and are kept in inconspicuous locations and rituals performed only during inauspicious times. Kubera, the god of wealth is believed to have worshiped Lord Shiva at Ariyanathaswamy Harikesavanallur.

Directions

Ariyanathaswamy Harikesavanallur is about 3 kilometers north of Veeravanallur (30 kilometers west of Tirunelveli via Cheranmahadevi) and the same distance south of Mukkudal (25 kilometers west of Tirunelveli in the Kadayam, Tenkasi Road).

Stay and Food

None locally. Closest for food and stay is Tirunelveli, Ambasamudram or Tenkasi depending on your travel plans.

Saivite Temples

Tamilnadu Temples