Sri Kailasanathar Temple

Overview

Saint Arunagiriar sang paeans of praise for the glory of the temple in his Tirupugazh hymns. Lord Shiva in the temple is a Swayambumurthy facing west. There is an arrow scar on the Linga. Devotees perform abishek to Lord and Mother offering vastras.

About The Temple

The temple faces west. The temple tree is the gooseberry tree. Lord Vinayaka under the tower is seen facing Nandhi. Worships in the temple should start with prayers to this Vinayaka. Mother Shiva Durga graces from the goshta. A conch abishek is offered to Mother Shiva Durga on the last Friday of Aadi month-July-August. While beginning the circumambulating on the Prakara, the first shrine is of Lord Kasi Viswanatha with Mother Visalakshi and the last is that of Lord Ramanathaswami with Mother Parvathavardhini. The temple is so formed with the Kasi-Rameswaram tradition. Sivaganga Theertham is in the prakara. It is said that it exists of its own. The lord is seen in a worshipping form with a sword in the hip. Special abishek is offered to him on Aadi Perukku day (July-August) with nivedhanas. It is an honour to remember the chieftain who built this temple. The temple has a procession deity for Lord Dakshinamurthy with four disciples. On the first Thursday of each month, He comes to the shrine of Main Dakshinamurthy. Yellow threads placed in the puja are offered as Prasad to devotees. There are separate shrines for Lord Kala Bhairava and Sani Baghwan. Ekadasa Rudra Parayanam is observed to Lord Bhairava on the first day of Karthikai-November-December. Guru puja is observed for all 63 Nayanmars. There is also shrine for Nagar the Serpent deity to whom milk abishek is performed with sweet pudding-sarkarai pongal by those facing adverse aspects of serpent planets delaying their marriages. There are also shrines for Panchalingas, Gajalakshmi, Saraswathi, Aiyappan, Nayanmar and Santhanacharyas

Legend and Stories

Val Vil Ori was ruling this region having Kolli Hills as his headquarters. He was noted for his loving and charitable characters. A skilled warrior, he was a staunch Shiva devotee. While hunting a day, he could not spot a single animal. Tired king spotted a white swine and shot an arrow. The animal ran and the king chased it. The swine hid in a bush. When the king removed the bush he found a Shivalinga. Legend has it that he found the linga bleeding on the forehead hit by his arrow. He fell at the feet of the Lord. Lord Shiva granted darshan and said that he only came in the guise of the animal. Ori built the temple.

Festivals

Chithirai Brahmmotsavam in April-May; Vaikasi Visakam in May-June; Thai Poosam in January-February; Masi Magam in February-March and Panguni Uthiram in March-April are the festivals celebrated in the temple.

Poojas

Lord Kailasanathar is seen in the sanctum sanctorum as a swayambulinga with a scar of an arrow punch. Generally four pujas are performed to Lord on Shivarathri day (February-March) in Shiva temples. Here, six pujas (Aaru Kala Puja) is observed. Mother Ambica, Aram Valartha Nayaki from Her shrine facing west graces the devotees. Maha Meru (vertical form of Sri Chakra) is before Ambica

Significance

Devotees pray to Lord for artistic skills and to Mother for relief from evil effects on children. Women seeking child boon pray to Ambica in midday of Pradosha of full moon fortnight with special pujas. They offer coconut, fruits, raw rice and cooked rice without salt as nivedhana to beget children.

Accessibility

The nearest airports are in Coimbatore and Trichy. The nearest railways station is in Salem. Rasipuram is 30 kms from Namakkal and 27 from Salem. The temple is at a walking distance from the old bus stand.

Temple Address

Shri Kailasanathar Temple,
Rasipuram,
Namakkal Dist,
Pincode -637408.