Kannayiram Udayar, Kurumanakkudi, Nagapattinam

Basic information about the temple

Moolavar:	Kannayiram Udayar	Ambal / Thayar:	Muruguvalarkothai, Sugandhakunthalambigai
Deity:	Siva	Historical name:	Tirukkannaar Koil
Vriksham:	Sara Kondrai	Teertham:	Indra Teertham
Agamam:		Age (years):
Timing:	6 to 12 & 4 to 8	Parikaram:
Temple group:	Paadal Petra Sthalam (Kaveri Vada Karai)	–
Sung by:	Sambandar	Temple set:
Navagraham:		Nakshatram:
City / town:	Kurumanakkudi	District:	Nagapattinam
Maps from (click):	Current location	Mayiladuthurai (18 km)	Kumbakonam (56 km)
	Thiruvarur (58 km)	Nagapattinam (60 km)

Location

Kurumanakkudi is located 8 km from Sirkali and 18 km from Mayiladuthurai.

Sthala puranam and temple information

Indra once desired Ahalya, the wife of Sage Gautama, and through deceit, was able to be with her. Sage Gautama, who realized what had happened, cursed Ahalya to turn to a stone and be redeemed by Rama during the Rama Avataram, and also cursed Indra to sprout one thousand pustules on his body. As advised by Brahma, Indra came to this place and prayed to Lord Siva, who finally took pity on him and changed the thousand pustules into a thousand beautiful eyes (kan=thousand, ayiram=thousand).

The moolavar Lingam has cavities on the body that symbolize the thousand eyes – sahasranethra – given to Indra.

The name of the place – Kurumanikkudi (later corrupted to Kurumanakkudi) – derives from the Vamana Avataram. Kuru means small/short in Tamil.

It is believed that Lord Vishnu, in the form of Vamana, obtained Siva’s blessings before heading out to visit Mahabali and demand three steps’ worth of land.

Devotees believe that worshipping at this temple helps overcome vision problems as well as relief from any sins committed by them.

This is a medieval Chola temple with some stunning architecture typical of that period. Specifically, there is one spot in the temple from which the moolavar and the vimanam can be viewed at the same time. On the ceiling right outside the Amman shrine is a carving of the 12 rasis (zodiac signs) – very beautifully done.