Sankaran Kovil - Madurai Tour Places
Sankaran Kovil
Sri Sankaranayinarswami temple is one among the five famous temples of Siva in the Tirunelveli District. The other four temples are at Darukapuram, Tenmalai, Karivaradanallur and Devasthanam, representing God in the aspects of Water, Air, Fire and Ether respectively. It is situated at a distance of 34 miles from Tirunelveli, midway between Tenkasi and Srivilliputtur of Ramnad District. The image at Sankaranayinar Koil is Mrittika (earth) Lingam.The name of the temple is disputed. Some say that at first it was only Sankarar’s Koil and later Narayana was introduced. But at present the Sankaranayinar image is half Sankara (Siva) and half Narayana. The right portion of the image is smeared with sandal paste and has the emblem of Siva, with cobra around his head, deer, moon, etc.,
The left side of Vishnu having Sankham and Chakra. Both are carved in one figure, depicting the oneness of Hari and Hara. The legend says that Gomati Amman, the consort of Siva, wanted to see Hari and Hara as one and the same murti.
The Amman went on penance on the earth at Pungavanakshetram for 9 days in the month of Adi to have the darsan of Hari
It is believed that the water has got wonderful healing power in cases of leprosy, piles and other diseases. The afflicted patients bathe in the tank before they worship Gomati Amman.
There is a Sphatika lingam in the temple like those at Ramesw and Chidambaram. All abhishekam are offered to the Sphatikalingam. Couples who have not been blessed with a son take a vow and worship the temple with the hope of being blessed with a son soon so that their line may continue.
True faith and devotion to God will fulfil all the mundane desires of devotees, if followed with proper rituals and a devotee’s zeal. God loves his devotees and has assured the fulfillment of their desires.
The Gopuram, of this temple is of the usual style of South India is a massive structure commanding a glorious view from miles away is said to be the second highest Gopuram in South India. During the Adi Tapas festival of 10 days, which is considered b the biggest event in the year in the temple, held during the month of July in commemoration of the penance done by Gomati to see Siva and Vishnu as one God in the same image, the sick from the district and other parts of the country flock to the temple with the hope of getting a cure from Goddess when she is in her blissful mood to give relief to all her devotees. Women sping for safe delivery offer models of children and cradles which are hung in the temple precincts.
People suffering from severe disease throw salt and sugar into the square tank within the temple hoping their ailments may disappear as rapidly as the offerings are dissolved. In case of bodily pains, a dab of rice flour on a leaf is placed on part of the body affected, a hole is scooped out of this paste and in it is poured. Then the ghee is set alight and when it is burnt out, cure is complete.
Such is the mystic miracle of cure brought on faithful. In olden days, in the Gopuram there used to be a clock, locally made, to strike the astronomical timings of the day wherein 24 minutes makes a Nazhigai and 60 Nazhigais make a day. The clock is out of order long, since. Ugra Pandian, the Lord of Korkkai, the Vanquisher of the Tiger flag of the Cholas and the Bow flag of the Cheras, made improvements in the temple structure.
There are any number of such instances and if one would go to the sacred temple at Sankaranayinar Koil or Madura, he would see on auspicious days like Friday, in front of the goddess, a number of girls ‘seized’ by the wandering spirits, sometimes within the family, sometimes entire strangers, entering into the persons and personalities of these women and eating into their very vitals and afflicting them in various ways.
There is no reason for dismissing them as mere idle stories. No scientific investigation has been taken up, but the fact remains that the vibrations of a mo
