Sundareswarar Temple

Overview

The Annappanpettai Sundareswarar Temple is located at Annappanpettai in Nagapattinam, Tamil Nadu. This Sivasthalam is located near Tiruvenkadu and Mangaimadam.

About the Temple

This temple is the 8th Shiva Temple on the northern bank of Cauvery praised in Thevaram hymns. Lord Shiva in the temple is a swayambumurthy. The temple is small in size. There are no Rajagopuram and Kodimaram-flag post. Sage Parasara Maharshi appears worshipping Lord Shiva. Mother Durga in the Ghoshta blesses the devotees with 8 hands. Lord Viswanatha with Mother Akhilandeswari graces from a shrine in prakara. There is also a shrine for Lord Muruga with Valli and Deivanai. Of the Navagraha-9 planets- the temple for planet Mercury-Budha in Tiruvenkadu is just 6 km far from this place.Lord Vinayaka blesses the devotees with the name of Selva Siddhi Vinayaka. Devotees believe that consuming vilwa leaves used for the archana of the Lord have all the medical effects to cure diseases. Saint Tirugnana Sambandar, in his Thevarm hymn states that worshipping Lord of the temple would relieve the devotee of his ailments and ensure prosperity. There is a shrine for Lord Viswanatha in the prakara. As the place has Lord Shiva removing all hardships (kali), the place is named Kalikamoor.There are Shiva temples with more than one Vinayaka side by side in a single shrine. Here, besides a shrine for one Vinayaka, two Vinayakas are at the entrance of the Sanctum Sanctorum on both sides as dwarapalakas.

Traditionally, in temples on the bank of rivers, Lord Shiva visits the river for Theerthavari, a bathing festival. In this temple, on the Masi Magam day, Mother Ambica alone is taken to the sea shore for Theerthavari. The story is as follows:Earlier, the temple had a Shiva shrine only. A fisherman here caught an Ambica idol from the sea while fishing. Sooner he took the idol from the net, he felt a severe stomach pain. However, he brought it to the temple despite his pain. Sooner he reached the temple the pain miraculously disappeared. Ambica was installed in the temple. As Ambica came from the sea, remembering this event, She alone is taken to the sea for the Theerthavari festival. The Navagrahas-9 planets in the temple are in standing form without their vahans. The temple was praised in the Thevaram hymns of Saint Tirugnana Sambandar.

About the Deity

The presiding deity is Lord Shiva. He is called as Sundareswarar in this temple. His consort is known as Azhagammai.

Legend and Stories

Legend has it that Sage Shakti was a staunch Lord Shiva devotee. When his wife Tirashanti was pregnant, he was killed by a demon Udhiran. His son was very sad that his mother was a widow when he was born. He, named Parasara grew into a great scholar in Vedas and scriptures. He conducted a yajna to revenge demon Udhiran and accomplished his aim. However, as he committed a killing, to wash the sin he visited many Shiva temples. He was granted darshan by the Lord in this place in a handsome form.As requested by the sage, Lord Shiva stayed here in the name of Sundareswara. Sundaram means beauty. He also bears the name Vilwavana Nathar as the place was dense with Vilwa trees.

Festivals

Theerthavari in Masi full moon day and Shivrathri in February-March; Purattasi Navarathri in September-October; Aipasi Annabishekam in October-November are the festivals celebrated in the temple.

Significance

Devotees pray for a healthy life and for the dilution of the intensity of past karmas. They offer clothes to Lord and Mother and offer donations for temple maintenance and renovations

Nearby Place To Visit

KayaroganeswararThanthondreeswarar

NeelakandeswararPallavaneswarar

Aranyeswarar

Naganathar

Accessibility

Annappanpettai can be reached by buses from Sirkali bound to Keezhamoovakarai. (16 km). Bus facility is not very convenient. A cab can be hired. From Tiruvenkadu the place is 6 km far. The closest railway station is in Mayiladuthurai and the closest airport is in Trichy.

Temple Address

Sri Sundareswarar Temple, (Tirukalikamoor),
Annappanpettai-609 106.
Thennampattinam Post,
Sirkali Taluk,
Nagapattinam district.