Sundareswarar Pattamadai

Saivite Temples, Tirunelveli District

God

Sundareswarar, facing east

Goddess

Meenakshi Amman, facing south

Other Deities

Vinayaka, Subramanian with consorts, Balavinayaka, Navagraha, Naagar

Sundareswarar Pattamadai is a small temple with a beautiful small temple tank on the south side adjoining the small walkway that leads to the temple. The sanctum sanctorum is a single construction with both god and goddess visible from the center. The single Prakaram has a well that has a higher water level than the surrounding ground level including the temple tank water level. This tank has water even when the temple tank dries out. There are tall trees surrounding the temple with a large number of fruit-eating bats roosting in them. Peacocks are also found around the temple. The Vilwam tree found here is a variety that has smaller leaves than normal and bears a lot of fruits. The main Lingam is a Saligrama stone and has depressions for the eyes. There is another Sundareswarar Temple nearby located adjoining the Canal, which was built later than this.

Holy Water (Theertham) – Temple Tank and Well

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

History

Sundareswarar Pattamadai is an old temple built by Sundareswara Swamy in 1808 with a Lingam he brought from Kasi which fitted into the Aavudayar made here perfectly.

Legend

Sundareswarar Pattamadai was built by Sundareswara Swamy who found a Saligrama Lingam in Kasi which fitted the independently made base here. As he was building the temple the well did not yield water. He did penance under the Vilwam tree here and overnight the water level rose to a level above the surrounding ground. This well is said to have water even when there is no water in surrounding areas including the temple tank.

Directions

Sundareswarar Pattamadai is 20 kilometers southwest of Tirunelveli. There are 2 temples with the same name in the village and we suggest you visit both. The one featured here is the one on the eastern side. There are 2 Perumal temples here also with the same name. There are other temples in Pattamadai and we recommend you refer to our map to visit all the temples. The priest who officiates is the same for three of these and also the Kariamanicka Perumal temple on the other side of the Canal. He is a nice man who will accompany you to all of them.

Stay and Food

None locally. Closest is Tirunelveli or Ambasamudram depending on your travel plan.

Saivite Temples

Sundareswarar, Pattamadai