Sri Sundareswarar Temple, Kalikkaamoor (Annappan Pettai), Sirkazhi - 275 Shiva Temples

08. Sri Sundareswarar Temple, Kalikkaamoor (Annappan Pettai) (Chola Nadu - North of Kaveri):

Names of God : Sri Sundareswarar
Name of Goddess : Sri Sundarambal, Sri Azhagammai
Holy water (Theertham) : Chandra Theertham.
Sacred Tree (Sthala Vriksham) : Vilwa.
Thevaram : Sambandar
District : Nagapattinam.
Location : Sirkazhi.
Timings : 08:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. and from 05:00 p.m. to 07:30 p.m.

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This is the 8th sthalam on the northern side of river Cauvery. Saint Tirugnanasambandar has praised the Lord in his Thevaram hymns. The temple is small in size. There are no Rajagopuram and Kodimaram-flag post. Sage Parasara Maharshi appears worshiping 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.

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. Devotees pray for a healthy life and for the dilution of the intensity of past karmas.

History / Legend:

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 worshiping 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 Ambika alone is taken to the sea shore for Theerthavari.

Earlier, the temple had a Shiva shrine only. A fisherman here caught an Ambika 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. Ambika was installed in the temple. As Ambika 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.

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.

Location: This sivasthalam is located near Tiruvenkadu and Mangaimadam. Town bus services from Sirkazhi to Konaiyampattinam goes via Annappan Pettai. On the bus route Thiruvengadu to Seerkazhi, get down at Mangaimadam, from there take the road to Thirunagar and on the way to Konayampattinam.

Temple Address & Contact Details:

Arulmighu Sundareswarar Temple
Annappan Pettai, Via Mangaimadam
Sirkazhi Taluk, Nagapattinam District
PIN 609106.
Phone: +91 93605 77673, 97879 29799.