Kasi Viswanathar Jambai

Saivite Temples, Villupuram District

God

Kasi Viswanathar, facing east

Goddess

Visalakshi, facing south

Other Deities

Vinayaka, Naagar

Kasi Viswanathar Jambai is an east-facing, stone temple. The temple is situated in an open outer Prakaram. The sanctum sanctorum is surrounded by walls on all sides enclosing a small circumambulatory pathway. The Vimaanam seems to be a later addition. An old broken Nandi and other idols are found around the Prakaram, A new Nandi faces the lord. On the south side of the temple is a beautiful temple pond with Lotuses in it. The Then Pennai River flows south of the village.

Holy Water (Theertham) – Temple Pond

Sacred Tree (Sthala Vriksham) – No information

History

Kasi Viswanathar Jambai is an ancient Chola period temple probably as old as the nearby Jambukeswara Temple. Historical information is not available as of now. According to inscriptions found in the Jambukeswara Temple, this village was called Valayur during Parantaka Chola I period. In a hillock called Jambaimalai, east of Kasi Viswanathar Jambai is a Brahmi Script carved on a rock that dates back to the 1st Century CE. Indications of a Megalithic Period (1500 BC to 500 BC) settlement of people have been found in the hillock.

Legend

No information

Directions

Kasi Viswanathar Jambai is about 5 kilometers west of Manalurpet on the north banks of the Then Pennai River.

Stay and Food

None locally. The closest are Thirukovilur and Thiruvannamalai.

Saivite Temples

Kasi Viswanathar, Jambai