Navaneethakrishnan Veerakeralampudur

Vaishnavite Temples, Tirunelveli District

God

Navaneethakrishnan, facing east

Goddess

Sreedevi and Bhoodevi along with processional deity

Other Deities

Garudan

Navaneethakrishnan Veerakeralampudur is an east-facing temple with 2 Prakarams. The inner Prakaram is covered on top. The flagstaff here is gold plated. The Mantapam before the main entrance has some ancient murals on the walls which are fading away. On both sides of the entrance to this Mandapam are carved elephants that give an indication of the mindless raising of the surrounding ground covering up their legs. The main deity here at Navaneethakrishnan Veerakeralampudur is seen standing with a ball of butter in his hands. Navaneethakrishnan Veerakeralampudur is near the banks of the Chithar River after its confluence with Hanuman Nadhi a little way ahead. The Chithar River joins the Tamiraparani River near Seevalaperi.

Holy Water (Theertham) – Chithar River

Sacred Tree (Sthala Vriksham) – Punnai (Calophyllum inophyllum)

Vimaanam – Padma Vimaanam

History

Navaneethakrishnan Veerakeralampudur is an old temple. Going by the name of the main deity here and the nearby Shiva Temple, both of them were constructed by the Zamindars of Uthumalai (including the present-day Veerakeralampudur). They were Polygars (Palaiyakkarars of the Maravar Caste), the feudal title for a class of territorial administrative and military governors appointed by the Nayak rulers between the 16th and 18th centuries CE. In their lineage are the names of two Zamindars Irudalaya and Navanithakrishna who could have constructed these temples. Another possibility is from the name Veera Keralampudur – Veera Keralan were a clan of kings who ruled parts of Kerala and Tamilnadu between the 11th and 12th Centuries CE. As per the legend and information provided by the Tirunelveli Temples Guide the temple is said to have been built by one of the Veera Keralan Kings more than 1000 years ago. The names of the deities could then have been changed in later times to the present-day names. A fish symbol carved on the ceiling of the outer Mantapam indicates Pandya contribution.

Legend

A King of the Veera Keralan lineage who ruled these parts did not have progeny. Being a staunch Vishnu Devotee he prayed to the lord and was advised in his dream to take a bath in the Chitra Kulam nearby and worship to get progeny. He was blessed with a boy. In his happiness and as a mark of thanking the lord, he built this temple devoting a lot of resources.

Directions

Navaneethakrishnan, Veerakeralampudur is about 45 kilometers northwest of Tirunelveli and about 25 kilometers east of Tenkasi. Veerakaralampudur can be reached by taking a right at the Athiyuthu Junction as you go from Tirunelveli. From this junction, it is about 6 kilometers. There is an old Shiva Temple also in Veerakeralampudur.

Stay and Food

None locally. The closest is Tenkasi.

Vaishnavite Temples