Thiruthangal Karunellinathar Temple, Virudhunagar

Address

Thiruthangal,

Virudhunagar District,

Tamil Nadu 626130

Moolavar

Karunellinathar

Amman

Chokki ambal

Introduction

Karunellinathar temple is dedicated to Shiva, located in Thiruthangal, a town in the outskirts of Sivakasi, a in Tamilnadu, India. Shiva is worshiped as Karunellinathar, and is represented by the lingam and his consort Parvati is depicted as Chokki Amman. It is built on a hillock 100 ft. (30 m) and houses a small gateway tower known as gopurams. The temple is a rock cut temple and has many shrines, with those of Karunellinathar and Chokki Amman being the most prominent. The temple is located on the other side of Ninra Narayana Perumal temple, a famous Vishnu temple and can be reached from that temple on the hillock. The temple is believed to have been built by Gurukalathirayan during the Pandyan regime in 1233 CE. The temple has four daily rituals at various times from 6:00 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., and four yearly festivals on its calendar. The temple is maintained and administered by the Hindu Religious and Endowment Board of the Government of Tamilnadu.

Puranic Significance

Karunellinathar temple is believed to have been built by Pandyas. There are a host of inscriptions in the temple indicating information related to the gifts offered to the temple. One of the inscriptions from 1032 CE indicates the temples as Paramaswamy who willingly chose the hillock as his abode. A lake by name of Vallabha Pereri existed by the side of the temple. The temple is believed to have been expanded by Gurukalathirayan, the minister of Sundara Pandya during the Pandyan regime in 1233 CE. Ulli Bomman Kalangatha Kanda Nayakar, who attained martyrdom in a war at Thiruthangal, was sanctified by donating the places around Thiruthangal to his family. An image of the warrior is found in the temple

Thiruthangal: As per a legend, Ranganatha (the reclining form of Vishnu) from Srirangam Ranganathaswamy temple was enamoured by the devotion of Andal. He started a journey to Srivilliputhur Divya Desam to seek her hand for marriage. While reaching the place, it became dark and he decided to spend the night in the place. Since he stayed at this place, it came to be known as Thiruthangal and the hillock came to be known as Thalagiri

Origin of Arjuna River: As per another legend, the Pandavas from Mahabharata were living in exile and were roaming around the forest of Western Ghats. They could not get water for performing their daily pooja. As Sun was rising, Arjuna, one of the princes, prayed to Ganga to send water to the place and shot an arrow that split earth and brought forth a river. The river that originated is believed to be the Arjuna river in modern times.

Karunellinathar: The place where the temple was located was believed to be housing two Amla trees (called nelli in Tamil) and hence got the name as Irunellinathar, which later went on to become Karunellinathar.

The shrine of Lord Muruga was built by a devotee named Arumuga Thambiran. He used to visit Palani each year for darshan of Lord Muruga. During one such annual Padayathra, he could not cross a canal on the way as he grew old. He stayed there itself and performed pujas. When he dug the earth to make oven for cooking, he got gold coins which he used to build the temple. People celebrate Muruga of this place – Thiruthangal – as powerful and graceful as he is in Palani.

Beliefs

Marriages are finalized for those praying on Tuesdays and Fridays. Pradosha worship cures diseases. Women joining Poornima – Full Moon – puja are blessed with longevity of their husbands ensuring blessing of longevity of their Mangalya sutras. Praying Lord Muruga on Karthika star days reduces the intensity of ill fates. Devotees offer hair (tonsuring) to Lord Muruga. Offer Dhoti and Sari to Lord and Mother with special Abhishekam and aaradhana. Feed the devotees visiting the temple (Annadhana) and distribute the nivedhana to the devotees.