| Description This Divyadesam
is located near Nagappattinam,
between the towns Keevalur and Sikkal both enshrining Shivastalams glorified
by the Tevaram hymns. This shrine is revered as one of the five Krishnaranya
kshetrams Tiruvazhundur, Tirukkannankudi, Kapistalam,
Kannapuram and Kannamangai.
Deities: The Moolavar here is Lokanathan or Syamalameni Perumaal in a
standing posture facing east while the Utsavar is Damodara Narayanan depicated with his
left hand placed on his hip. Taayaar here is Aravindavalli, and the Utsava Taayaar is
Lokanayaki.
Legend has it that Bhrigu Muni , Gowtama rishi and Bhrama worshipped
Vishnu here. Legend also has it that Vashishtar created an image of Krishna of butter and
meditated upon it. It is believed that Krishna appeared in front of Vasishtar, who reached
out to him; a group of rishis engaged in meditation under the Magizha trees held Krishna,
with their devotion, which served as the 'Paasa Kayiru'. Hence the name Tirukkannankudi.
Interestingly Vasishtar is believed to have meditated upon a Shivalingam which he
fashioned out of butter, at Sikkal
nearby. Legends associated with this temple are referenced in the Garuda Puranam.
Tirumangai Alwar is believed to have hidden a golden image of Buddha -
here at Tirukkannankudi which he had brought from a vihara at Nagappattinam for the
purpose of building the walls of the Srirangam
temple. Several legends are associated with the encounters that Tirumangai Alwar had with
the residents of this town during his visit to the shrine here. The magizha tree located
behind the sanctum is said to date back to the time of the saint, and is referred to as
'kaayaamagizh' - or the tree that would not dry up and perish.
The temple: A five tiered rajagopuram adorns the entrance to this east
facing temple with two prakarams. The theertham here is known as Sravana pushkarini and
within it are believed to be eight sources of water. There are shrines to Garudan, Rama,
Hanuman and the Alwars.
The annual festival is celebrated in the tamil month of Chittirai here. |
