Thiruvenkadu Pappankulam

Saivite Temples, Tirunelveli District

God

Thiruvenkattu Naadhar, facing east

Goddess

Vadakalanayaki (facing south)

Other Deities

Adhikara Nandi, Surya, Kanni Vinayakar, Naalvar, Sekizhar, Juradevar, Sapthakanniyar, Vinayaka, Muruga with consorts, Chokkanadar, Meenakshi, Annamalaiyar, Unnamalai Amman, Sastha, Kasi Viswanathar, Visalakshi, Subramanya with consorts, Saneeswarar, Navagraha, Natarajar, Sivakami Amman, Bhairava, Chandran. Sanctum Niches – Dakshinamurthy, Lingotbavar, Brahma, Durga, Chandikeswara

Thiruvenkadu Pappankulam is an ancient temple that was in a dilapidated condition. Local people including a brother and sister took up the cause and with a lot of struggle have been dedicating their earnings to maintain the temple. Many Siva devotees also provide their attention and service making this a well-maintained temple. Thiruvenkadu Pappankulam is a beautiful east-facing temple with a single Prakaram housing all the shrines and the sanctum sanctorum. There is a cloistered Mantapam all around the Prakaram. Before the Sanctum is a mandapam with beautifully carved Yaali Pillars. All the idols here are beautiful pieces. The feet of the peacock of Lord Subramanya and the Crow of Saneeswara with its realistic-looking eyes are particularly beautiful. An Utsava Mantapam is outside along with a large Peepal tree with Vinayaka below it. An old Muruga temple is behind. There is a beautiful ancient Ramar temple in the same village.

Holy Water (Theertham) – No information

Sacred Tree (Sthala Vriksham) – No information

History

Thiruvenkadu Pappankulam is an ancient temple as is evident from the number of inscriptions found around the Sanctum Sanctorum. Thiruvenkadu Pappankulam goes back to the Pandya King Aditya Varma period when a famous sculptor called Chaturvedi was creating many marvelous temples and their Sculptures. In appreciation, he was gifted this village by the Pandya King. He is believed to have spent his later days here and parted with his life here.

Legend

The main deity here at Thiruvenkadu Pappankulam is created out of a rare stone called Chandra Kantha which is said to imbibe the cooling properties of the Moon. Hence the lord here is also considered a Chandra (moon) Lingam. A Chola army commander is also believed to have worshiped here and overcome the ill effects of Sani (Saturn) and attained victory over the Chera forces.

Directions

Thiruvenkadu Pappankulam is about 12 kilometers west of Mukkudal in the Tenkasi Road. Thiruvenkadu Pappankulam is about 12 kilometers northwest of Ambasamudram via Edaikkal. From the Pappankulam junction take a left and go on for about half a kilometer to reach the temples which are close to each other.

Stay and Food

None locally. Closest is Ambasamudram for food and stay.

Saivite Temples

Thiruvenkadu, Pappankulam