Vijayapathi Magalingeswarar Temple, Tirunelveli

Address

Vijayapathi Magalingeswarar Temple

Vijayapathy,

Tirunelveli District – 627104.

Moolavar

Magalingeswarar

Amman

Akilandeswari

Introduction

The sacred Mahalinga Swamy Udanurai Akilandeswari Temple is located in Vijayapati, near Kudankulam, and is revered as one of the Navagraha Parikara temples. It holds significant historical and spiritual importance, believed to date back to the Ramayana period. A unique feature of this temple is a separate shrine dedicated to Sage Vishwamitra, one of the esteemed Saptarishis, which is a rare aspect among temples.

Vijayapathi, a coastal village, can be reached by traveling from Tirunelveli via Valliyur to Radhapuram, and is located about 10 kilometers from Radhapuram. The temple is not only a center for planetary relief rituals but also a spiritually charged site with deep connections to ancient lore.

Puranic Significance

The Vijayapathi temple near Kudankulam holds great spiritual significance due to its connection with Lord Rama and Lakshmana, who were afflicted with Brahmahatti Dosha after slaying demons during Sage Vishwamitra’s yagna. To atone for their sins, they reached the Thillai forest in Chidambaram and later found a similar Thillai forest in Vijayapati. There, they installed Goddess Kali as their guardian deity.

They also consecrated Homa Kunda Vinayakar, Vishwamitra Mahalinga Swamy, and Akilandeswari Ambal, set up a Homa Kunda, and performed sacred rituals to remove the dosha. Recognizing this, a Pandya king later constructed the temple and marked it with his royal symbol—double fish—on the inner facade.

The site is especially revered during Aadi Amavasya and Thai Amavasya, when thousands take a holy dip in the Vishwamitra Theertham and worship at the Thillaikali temple to gain relief from life’s difficulties. Devotees believe that a dip in the sea here and worship at the temple brings peace to the souls of ancestors.

Monthly rituals such as abhishekam, pushpanchali, and annadanam are held on the day of the Anusham star, and it is said that Vishwamitra Maharishi continues to perform penance here in a subtle form.

Special Features

One of the most significant atonement rituals at the Vijayapathi Mahalinga Swamy Temple is the Nava Kalasa Puja, performed to appease the Navagrahas (nine planets) and remove planetary afflictions.

In this ritual, nine sacred kalasams (pots) are filled with a unique blend of ingredients:

Milk
Curd
Ela water
Turmeric powder
Herbal bathing powder
Vetti root
Sandalwood paste
Vibhuti
Kumkum

These are mixed with pure water and infused with fragrant herbs. The kalasams are then placed in alignment with the traditional Navagraha configuration within the temple.

The person for whom the parihara is being performed is seated facing east before these kalasams. After an elaborate puja to invoke planetary blessings, the individual is taken to sit beneath the sacred Vilva tree inside the temple premises. Here, the Nava Abishekam is performed using the water from the nine kalasams, symbolizing a powerful purification of both body and soul.

Following this cleansing ritual, worship is offered to Goddess Akilandeswari and Lord Mahalinga Swamy, seeking their divine grace for relief from karma and doshas.

It is firmly believed that this sacred puja not only removes planetary ill effects but also brings peace, clarity, and prosperity to the devotee.