Kurumaanakkudi Sri KannayiramUdayar Temple, Nagapattinam

Address

Kurumaanakkudi Sri KannayiramUdayar Temple, Kurumaanakkudi, Tarangambadi Taluk, Nagapattinam District,PIN 609117 PH:9442258085

Diety

Sri KannayiramUdayar Amman: Murugu Valar Kothai Naayaki.

Introduction

Kurumanakkudi Kannayiram Udayar Temple is a Hindu temple located at Kurumanakkudi in Nagapattinam district of Tamil Nadu, India. This temple is also known as Kannarkovil. The presiding deity is Shiva. He is called as Kannayiram Udayar and Kannayiranathar. His consort is Murugu Valar Kothai Naayaki. It is one of the shrines of the 276 Paadal Petra Sthalams – Shiva Sthalams glorified in the early medieval Tevaram poems by Tamil Saivite Nayanar Tirugnanasambandar. It is believed that Vishnu in the form of Vamana, is believed to have worshipped Shiva at this place. Tirtha: Indra Tirtha

Puranic Significance

Indra, the chief of the gods, lusted after Agali, the wife of the sage Gautama. He once sent the sage out and maneuvered to be happy with the agile. So Indra took the form of a sage and went to see the abyss. Knowing that it was not her husband who had come, she agreed to do wrong because of her desire for Indra. By the time the sage came back, Indra had taken the form of a cat. Agali was frightened. Knowing what had happened, the sage became angry and cursed Indra to have a female organ for a thousand women all over his body. He then cursed Akaligai to stone him. The sage said, “When Rama’s Thiruvadi is attained, the curse will be obtained.” Indra went to Brahman to seek redress for his suffering. To that Brahman Kurumanakudi worshiped Shiva and said the way to get rid of the curse. Indra also bathed in the Itala Tirtha to worship Shiva, and his thousand marks turned into a thousand eyes and the Lord accepted him. Indra’s curse was over. So Lord Itala became “the Tens of thousands”.

Beliefs

It is believed that those who wish to bless the child will get the blessing of the child by offering milk and fruit in the Ardha Jama Puja and those who are suffering from eye related diseases will get the best benefit if they light a lamp and worship here. Above the Amman Sanctuary, there are 12 zodiac signs carved. It is said that if all the 12 zodiac signs have a defect in their horoscope, the defect will go away if the goddess Murugan worships the heroine with saffron. The best place to worship for those who are barred from marriage.

Special Features

Ithalam is also known as ‘Kurumanakkudi’ because of the worship of Vamanamurti Kurumani who asked the Mahabali emperor for three feet of soil. Manikkavasagar, Cheikh and Ramalinga Adigalar have performed darshan. Ithalattu Moolavar is blessed as a self-made deity. The temple was built by the Cholas. It is the 17th shrine out of 274 shrines to receive the devotional song of Lord Shiva. It is the 17th place in the Cauvery North to receive Thevarapatal. In terms of miracle: Ithalattu Moolavar is blessed as a self-portrait.