Pakkam Kottur Shikanathar Shiva Temple, Nagapattinam

Address

Pakkam Kottur Shikanathar Shiva Temple, Nagapattinam

Nagai circle,

Nagapattinam District,

Tamil Nadu – 609701.

Moolavar

Shikanatha / Jatadarar.

Introduction

Pakkam Kottur Shikanathar temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva. Pakkam Kottur is an agricultural village located in the Nagai circle, Nagapattinam district, Tamil Nadu. This village is also called Gurumanangottur. During the Chola period there have been a fort and a palace. At present the moat system around the Shiva temple and a large area has been largely removed. There is no proper pooja in this temple.

Puranic Significance

Over the past centuries, the temple has fallen into disrepair. The temple has been renovated in recent times. The sanctum sanctorum is the Arthamandapam, which may have been a Mahamandapam earlier. After completion of the arthamandapam, there is an ambikai sanctum outside the arthamandapam. Outside the mahamandapa area there is a bull in a black stone mandapam. And then there is an altar. At the gate of the sanctum sanctorum there is a Ganesha and Valli deity Sametha Murugan. In the beautiful cylindrical pillared arthamandapa there is a lingam facing west, Muktiswarar with a small Nandi in front of him. There are many inscriptions on the sanctum walls. The Koshta deities are Tenmukhan and Maha Vishnu Durga at the back. The old statue of Ambigai, which was worshiped by Sirati, is broken and lying outside. Many idols are missing and some of the existing ones are new. The temple is said to be more than 1000 years old.

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