Cheranmahadevi Milagu Pillaiyar Temple – Thirunelveli

Address

Cheranmahadevi Milagu Pillaiyar Temple – Thirunelveli

Cheranmahadevi, Thirunelveli District,

Tamil Nadu 627414

Moolavar

Milagu Pillaiyar

Introduction

Location:

• Situated in Cheranmahadevi, Thirunelveli District, Tamil Nadu, near the Kannadian canal and bus stand.
• Approximately 30 km from Nambi Divyadesam at Thiru Kurungudi and 20 km from Kulasekara Azhwar Rajagopalaswamy Temple in Mannarkoil (Ambai).
• The nearest railway station is Cheranmahadevi, and the nearest airports are in Madurai and Thiruvananthapuram.

Deity:

• The temple is dedicated to Lord Vinayaka (Milagu Pillaiyar).
• Unique Worship Pattern: The temple is known for a distinctive method of worship, particularly in times of drought and failed monsoons.

Puranic Significance:

• The Story of the Karnataka Youth: A king in Kerala suffering from an incurable disease is advised in a dream to create a doll filled with pearls, which eventually leads him to donate it to a Brahmin youth. The youth follows divine instructions to build a canal (now known as Kannadian Kalvai) and other water structures, guided by Sage Agasthya.
• The Vinayaka temple was built by the youth in Cheranmahadevi as part of his efforts to bring about the monsoon and support the farming community.
• The canal named Kannadian Kalvai was created with the divine guidance of the youth. According to legend, the youth worshiped Lord Vinayaka by grinding pepper and performing Abhishekam to invoke rainfall. The worship continues even today.

Beliefs:

• Monsoon Prayer: When the monsoon fails, the Farmers’ Association of Cheranmahadevi performs prayers by grinding pepper on Lord Vinayaka’s idol and performing Abhishekam in a way that the water falls into the canal, invoking rainfall.
• Devotees also perform special abhishekam and contribute to Annadhanam (feeding the poor).

Special Features:

• The Milagu Pillaiyar Temple is over 1500 years old.
• Historical References: Mentioned by Sri Kanchi Maha Swamigal in Deivathin Kural and in the 1916 Government Gazette (page 367), highlighting the temple’s historical significance.
• The temple is linked to the Kannadian Kalvai canal, which the Karnataka youth built to bring water to the region.

Festivals:

• The temple celebrates Vinayaka Chaturthi grandly, a major festival for Lord Vinayaka.

References

https://tamilnadu-favtourism.blogspot.com

Century/Period

1500 Years old

Managed By

Hindu Religious & Charitable Endowments Department (HR&CE)

Nearest Bus Station

Cheranmahadevi

Nearest Railway Station

Cheranmahadevi

Nearest Airport

Madurai and Thiruvananthapuram

Location on Map

lightuptemple