Devakottai Kandadevi Swarna Moortheeswarar Temple (Siragilinather Temple), Sivaganga

Address

Kandadevi, Devakottai,

Sivaganga District,

Tamilnadu – 630314

Mobile: +91 94439 56357

Moolavar

Swarna Moortheeswarar

Amman

Periyanayaki

Introduction

The Swarna Moortheeswarar Temple, also known as the Siragilinather Temple, is a dedicated to Lord Shiva located in Kandadevi, a village in Devakottai Taluk of Sivaganga District, Tamil Nadu, India. The temple holds historical and religious significance and is associated with events from the Indian epic Ramayana.

Puranic Significance

Kandadevi plays a significant role in the Ramayana, as it is associated with the kidnapping of Sita by Ravana. It is believed that when Ravana was abducting Sita to Lanka, she cried for help, and her distress was witnessed by Jatayu, a great bird.
Jatayu courageously intervened to rescue Sita and engaged in a fierce battle with Ravana. During this battle, Ravana severed Jatayu’s wings, causing him to fall to the ground.
Jatayu hoped that Lord Rama, who was in search of Sita, would follow and rescue her. Lord Rama did find the mortally wounded Jatayu, who narrated the events and died in Lord Rama’s presence.
As a tribute to Jatayu, Lord Rama installed a Shiva Lingam in the area and named it Lord Siragilinathar, meaning “the Lord without feathers,” in reference to Jatayu’s sacrifice.
The place where Jatayu saw Sita being abducted was named Kandadevi, originally Kanden Devi, meaning “Seeing Sita.” The name later transformed to Kandadevi.

Special Features

Historical Significance:

The Swarna Moortheeswarar Temple is believed to be around 1500 years old. While the original name of the deity was Lord Siragilinathar, the temple is now known as Lord Swarnamoortheeshwarar Temple due to a significant event in its history.

Name Change of the Deity:

According to a legend, a king who ruled the region wanted to renovate the temple, but the kingdom lacked the resources to do so. While on his way with two businessmen, all three stumbled and fell near the temple. The king found this incident strange and ordered a dig, where they found gold and precious gems.
Believing it to be a blessing from Lord Siragilinathar, the king used this treasure to renovate the temple and changed the deity’s name to Lord Swarnamoortheeshwarar, signifying the bestowed gold treasure.

Other Legends:

There are other legends associated with the temple, such as a severe drought that ended when it rained gold, leading to the naming of a nearby village as Semponmaari, meaning “rain of gold.” As a result, the Lord was named Swarna Moortheeswarar, emphasizing the prosperity He bestowed.

Temple Details:

The presiding deity of the temple is Swarna Moortheeswarar, also known as Siragilinather, and the goddess is Periyanayaki Amman.
The temple is maintained by Sivaganga Devasthanam and owned by the legal heirs of the Sivagangai Raja.
Behind the temple, there is a large tank called Jatayu Theertham, which is known for never drying up, even during drought or intense summer seasons.