Manjakollai Gnanalingeswarar Shiva Temple (Kumaran Temple), Nagapattinam

Address

Manjakollai, Nagai circle,

Nagapattinam District,

Tamil Nadu 611106

Moolavar

Gnanalingeswarar

Amman

Gnanavalli

Introduction

Manjakollai Gnanalingeswarar (Kumaran) Temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva, located in the Manjakollai village, Nagai circle, Nagapattinam district, Tamil Nadu. Manjakollai is two kilometres west of Nagapattinam. Kumarankovil here is known for its Kandashasti festival. Here the Presiding deity is called as Gnanalingeshwarar and Mother is called as Gnanavalli. Although it is the source of Lord Gnanalingam, this temple is also called as Kumaran Kovil.

Puranic Significance

Once upon a time in Devaloka there was a dance performance of the great Thilothamma. Seeing her dancing, Brahma fell in love with her. He told her that. In addition, he is like my father who does creative work. She refused Brahman’s wish saying, ‘I am like your daughter.’ Angered by this, Brahmin cursed, ‘you will be born as a maiden on the earth’. Thilothamma was angry with Brahma who had cursed him in no way. She cursed in response, ‘You who have cursed without even realizing your mistake, there will be no temple on earth alone’. Both cursed.

Thilothamma appeared in Dasikulam in Kancheepuram. When she lost her beauty as she was cursed by one of her husband’s due to fate. She went and worshiped various shrines for salvation. Finally she came to Manjakollai called ‘Kungkumaranyam’. On that day, in the month of Karthika, on Sunday, she bathed in the Gnana Theertha and visited the Lord Gnanalinga, and her curse was lifted. She got her natural beauty. But the Brahman Linga was not worshipped, and the curse remained.

Special Features

Puranas say that one of the sparks appearing on Lord Shiva’s face is an avatar of Lord Muruga. The temple is said to be more than 1500 years old. This temple is facing east along the main road does not have a Rajagopuram in front. There is a large hall at the front, followed by a gate with a small Rajagopuram. Here the lord lingeswarar is situated in the east; Ambikai Gnanavalli is in the south and opposite to the lord is Nandi, Vetri Velayudaswami with Valli-Theivanai, Dakshinamurthy in the koshta. Moolaganapati, Poiyamozhivinayakar, Jamatakini Munivar, Mahalakshmi, Chandi Keswarar in the separate sanctum, Navagraha in the northeast, Bhairava, Sun, and Moon in the south. The main tree of this temple is the Vilva tree. There are two large ponds in the west and south side of the temple.

“With the kind permission of Sri Kadambur K. Vijayan, these are extracted from his posts”.