Eraniel Marthandeswarar Mahadeva Temple, Kanyakumari

Address

Eraniel Marthandeswarar Mahadeva Temple Eraniel town, Kanyakumari District – 629802

Diety

Mahadeva

Introduction

Eraniel town is a small palace ruins located at Eraniel in Kanyakumari District of Tamilnadu. The Eraniel palace is regarded as a treasure house of the Venadu history but its present state is a pale shadow of its glorious past. The palace, now under the control of Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment Department of the State government, has traditional architectural characters from temple architecture of south India. Marthandeeswarar Eraniel is a small east facing temple with two Prakarams. The temple has entrances from both west and east. A large temple tank is present south of the temple. Marthandeeswarar Eraniel was an important place of worship for the royalty, being opposite to the ancient ruined palace of Eraniel. According to sources in the Kerala government’s Archaeology Department, Cheran Perumal, the most famous ruler of the Chera dynasty, was said to have constructed the Eraniel palace and fort. Eraniel today is a nondescript town-panchayat in Kanyakumari district, Tamil Nadu. The Temple is believed to be 1000 years old. The ruins of an old palace and a few ancient temples strewn across the landscape are perhaps the only pointers to the rich culture of the region. Marthandeeswarar Eraniel is 14 kilometers west of Nagercoil. You can take a left at Thottiyodu before Villukuri temple and take the road going to Thingal Nagar. Or you can take the road to Eraniel from Thucalay (4.5 kilometers). Marthandeeswarar Eraniel is about 1.5 kilometers east of Eraniel Railway Station.

Puranic Significance

Marthandeeswarar Eraniel is an ancient temple built by King Vanchi Marthanda Varma while visiting and living in the palace opposite the temple. Eraniel was once the Capital of the Venad Dynasty. Eraniel is the corrupted name of Hiranyasimhanalloor. Though there is no record of when the palace was built, it is believed that it could have been constructed about 1000 years back. During the reign of King Ravi Varma Kulashekhara, the Padmanabhapuram Palace was completed and the Capital was shifted from Eraniel to Padmanabhapuram. During 1799, Velu Thambi Dalawa started a riot from this Eraniel Palace against King Raja Balarama Varma and his Minister Jayanthan Shankaran Nampoothiri. Eraniel was also called as Ranasinganallur and ahs historical connections to the rulers, Pandya, Chera and Chola before coming under of the control of the Venad Kings. Eraniel Samba a variety of rice grown here used to be popular in the ancient days along with the weavers of Chitrapada Patttu specially meant for the Royalty. The original two storied palaces in ruins today consist of three parts – Padippura, Poomukham and the Vasanta Mantapam. There used to be excellent wooden carvings here which are said to have been looted and taken abroad along with many old paintings. Marthandeeswarar Eraniel was built by King Marthanda Varma when his way was blocked by the Hooded Valiyaru River during his regular visit to the Sivagiri Shiva Temple a little distance away. This small temple still exists below a small hillock.

Beliefs

Eraniel Marthandeeswarar Temple is a place where all obstacles are overcome. Devotees come and worship here to get rid of the marriage ban, and have children. Venpongal and fruits are made and worshiped for the Swami here. Sandalwood and Tiruneeru are offered in the temple.

Festivals

Shivaratri is celebrated on the 6th night of the dark Phalgun (Feb or March) every year. On the auspicious day, devotees observe fast and keep vigil all night. Mahashivaratri marks the night when Lord Shiva performed the ′Tandava′. Maha Shivaratri festival is also widely known as ‘Shivaratri’. It means the ‘Great Night of Shiva’. This auspicious day is believed to be the day of convergence of divine powers of Lord Shiva and Goddess Shakti. It is believed that on this day the planetary position in universe evokes the spiritual energies very easily. Religious penances are carried out to gain boons through the practice of medication and yoga. People worships lord Shiva whole day and chants “Om Namah Shiva”.