Chokkanadar Vembakottai

God

Chokkanadar, facing east

Goddess

Meenakshi Amman, facing south

Other Deities

Vinayaka, Muruga with consorts, Saneeswara, Kala Bhairava, Navagraha. Sanctum niches – Dakshinamurthy, Durga, Chandikeswara

Chokkanadar Vembakottai is a small east-facing temple situated in a single Prakaram. The entrance is through a gateway in the east. A Mahamandapam is common to the main deity and the south-facing shrine of the goddess. An Ardha Mandapam is in front of the sanctum sanctorum of the main deity. The Vaippar River which flows south of the temple turns north at the spot and hence Chokkanadar Vembakottai is considered an important temple by locals.

Holy Water (Theertham) – Vaippar River

Sacred Tree (Sthala Vriksham) – No information

History

Chokkanadar Vembakottai is said to be an old temple. Historical information is not available as of now. But the fish symbols on the pillars and the Sthalapuranam indicate that the temple was built during the Pandya Period.

Legend

The adopted sons (Kandiya Sethupathi and Pandya Sethupathi) of a local king called Sembulingaraja who ruled under the Pandyas, used to ride to Madurai to worship Goddess Meenakshi Amman daily before partaking food. One day when they approached the nearby Arjuna River to cross it was in spate. The two of them lay down under a tree and dozed off. Goddess Meenakshi appeared in their dreams and told them to identify an old temple where whitish colored grass bushes (elephant grass) existed, which will be seen below the spot where a Brahminy Kite will circle. Following the instructions, the two discovered the temple and renovated it. This is the Chokkanadar Vembakottai temple. Since the place used to have white-colored grass bushes in plenty it used to be called Ven Pul Kottai (white grass fort) which over time transformed to Vembakottai.

Directions

Chokkanadar Vembakottai is about 14 kilometers south of Sivakasi on the road going towards Kazhugumalai.

Stay and Food

None locally. The closest recomended place for food and stay is Sivakasi.