Sivakasi Kasi Viswanathar Temple, Virudhunagar

Address

Sivakasi Kasi Viswanathar Temple, Virudhunagar,

Sivan Sannathi Road, Parasakthi Colony,

Sivakasi, Virudhunagar district,

Tamil Nadu 626123

Kasi Viswanathar (Shiva)

Visalakshi (Parvathi)

Location: Situated in Sivakasi, a town in Virudhunagar district, Tamil Nadu, the temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva.

Construction and Architecture:

Built in the Dravidian style of architecture, the temple is believed to have been constructed by Pandyan ruler Harikesari Parakkirama Pandian in the 16th century, with later additions by the Madurai Nayaks.
A granite wall surrounds the temple, enclosing all its shrines, with the temple administered by the Hindu Religious and Endowment Board of Tamil Nadu.

Legend and Puranic Significance:

The temple’s origin is linked to the legend of King Harikesari Parakkirama Pandian, who went to Kasi to bring a Shivalingam. Upon his return, he rested under a vilva tree, and a cow carrying the lingam refused to move. The king understood this as a divine wish and installed the lingam at the spot, which later became Sivakasi.
The temple is called Kasi Viswanathar Temple because the lingam was brought from Kasi.

Special Features:

The temple is located in Bazaar Street, a commercial hub in Sivakasi.
Three-tiered gopuram (temple tower) and a pillared hall lead to the sanctum.
The Kasi Viswanathar lingam is housed in the sanctum, facing east.
Shrines dedicated to Vinayaka, Subramanya, Sivakami, Ayyappa, Dakshinamurthy, Arumugar, Durga, Navagrahas, and Nataraja are present in the temple complex.
A temple tank is situated to the right of the main entrance.

Festivals:

Brahmostavam (Tamil month of Vaikasi, May–June) is the most prominent festival.
Nataraja Thirumanjana (Aani, June–July)
Visalakshi Tapas (Aadi, July–August)
Moola Festival (Aavani, August–September)
Other festivals include Navarathri, Soorasamharam (Aipassi, October–November), Karthikai, Thiruvathirai, Thaipoosam, Sivarathri, and Panguni Uthiram.