Thirumoolanadar Ambasamudram

Thirumoolanadar, Ambasamudram

Saivite Temples - Tirunelveli District

God

Thirumoolanadar, facing east

Goddess

Ulagambikai, facing south

Other Deities

Vinayakar, Irattai Vinayakar, Naalvar, Santana Kuravargal Naalvar, Karmi Vinayaka, Dakshinamurthy, Vishnu Durgai, Chandikeswara, Navaneeta Krishna Perumal witḫ Sreedevi and Bhoodevi, Naagar, Subramanya with consorts, Durga, Saneeswara, Bhairava, Annamalaiyar, Chokkanadar, Meenakshi, Surya, Adhikara Nandi, Chandran, Navagraha, Saastha with Poorna Pushkala, Sidhdhar Peedam, Vinayaka, Agastya

Thirumoolanadar Ambasamudram is a small east-facing temple with the entrance gateway from the northern side. A small theertham tank is on the left as you enter the outer Prakaram. A Mantapam with Balipeedam, Flagstaff, and Nandi leads you into the east-facing entrance to the temple’s inner Prakaram. There is an entrance from the east also but it is not accessible by road because of the surrounding fields. The entrance leads into a Mahamantapam, Ardha Mantapam, and Antralaya to the Sanctum Sanctorum of the main deity. There is a 6 feet tall Perumal Idol with Sreedevi and Bhoodevi in a separate shrine between the God and Goddess shrines. There is a Sidhdhar Peedam behind with Ganesha and Sage Agastya installed above. There are some old and damaged idols lying about in the inner Prakaram. The Tamiraparani River runs south of the temple and a canal called Nadhiyunni originating from the river runs adjacent.

Holy Water (Theertham) – Mukunda Theertham, Brahma Theertham

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

History

Thirumoolanadar Ambasamudram is an ancient temple going back about 1000 years as is evident from the various inscriptions found here. They mention the name of the ‘Thiruchalaithurai Nindraruliya Peruman’, ‘Thiruchalaithurai Karumanicka Devar’, and ‘Thirumoolanathu Padarar’. Ambasamudram used to be called Thiruchalaithurai and Thirimoolanagar in ancient days.

Legend

Lord Brahma, to alleviate his sins, was advised by Sages to perform Yaga here at Thirumoolanadar Ambasamudram where the Tamiraparani flows, a grove of Nelli Trees are present, and where the lord is lying hidden. He came with his consort Goddess Saraswati and on the 7th day of his Yaga Lord Shiva and his consort came out of the fire and blessed him. The Lingam that came out of the fire was whitish in color and Brahma embraced it. The Lingam became dented here and there because of this and he made it even by filling with holy ash and covered it with an armor casing made of Chempon (fine red gold or copper).

Directions

Thirumoolanadar Ambasamudram is on the southern side of Ambasamudram. Just before the Agasteeswara Temple take a left into Thirumanjana Road and drive down till the end to reach Thirumoolanadar Ambasamudram. Ambasamudram is about 40 kilometers west of Tirunelveli.

Stay and Food

There are many restaurants and a few hotels to stay in Ambasamudram. The food at Gowri Shankar is decent and so are the rooms.

Saivite Temples

Tamilnadu Temples