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Once Lord Siva with His spouse Uma Devi was in Mount Kailash. The devas with Lord Brahma as their Leader were carrying on their job of creation. At that time, Sudhavalli, a vidhyadara girl, as Goddess Uma acted before the Lord and made him happy. Goddess Uma seeing Sudhavalli taking Her form, became angry and cursed her to be born on this earth.

Sudhavalli who acted without knowing the consequences felt very sad and trembled. Goddess Uma then blessed her with the boon that she could worship Lord Siva on the earth and then reach their abode. Sudhavalli likewise reached the southern Tamilnadu and in this sacred place on the southern part of Thevoor was born in the hereditary saiva vellala lineage and was growing as Kamalavalli, a girl with abundant Sivajnana.

She was brought up in the Saiva tradition, constantly worshipping Lord Siva, continuing her devotion of her previous birth. When she attained marriageable age, her parents gave her in marriage to a suitable man. They also made them live in a separate home nearby.

Like Karaikkaal Ammaiyar, Sudhavalli was living as a beloved to this god. However, she was performing all the dharmic rites for the beloved of her soul, Lord Siva. Kamalavalli's husband without understanding the merit of his wife and because of his hatred in her Siva-puja threw away the Sivalingam in the well.

Kamalavalli was confused whether to continue the worship of Lord Siva against the wish of the lord of her home. She decided to carry on the Siva-puja without his knowledge, by accepting as Sivalinga, the wedge in which the calf of her home was tied. The angry husband came to know that Kamalavalli was going against his wish and hit the wedge with an ax. Blood oozed out of the wedge. In order to make every one including her husband, know about Kamalavalli's bhakti.

Lord Siva manifested as Lingam in that wedge. Both Kamalavalli and her husband attained mukti and reached the abode of Lord Siva. Since the wedge of the calf became a Lingam this holy place was called 'Kanraappur'. Though the Lingam appeared as a swayambu murti , the Lord came to be known as Natutharinaathar as he came out of the wedge.

Temple Timings:

The temple is open in the morning from 7.00 till 12.300 pm and in the evening from 4.00 till 8.30 pm.

Temple Festivals:


Poojas are performed five times a day. A grand festival is conducted for three days during Vaikaasi Visaakam. For the Utsava Deity here, Mariamman , during the month of Chithirai every year for ten days, an ostentatious festival is celebrated.
Here the Prime Deity reveals as a self-manifested Deity (Swayambu Murthi). We can see the ax-injury in the head of Natutharinaathar.All lands in this city are as Recorded Settlement (patta) in the name of Arulmigu Natutharinaathar.

No individual member owns any land as Recorded Settlement.Kanraappur is considered to be more significant than the holy places like Chidambaram, Thirukkaalaththi, Keelvelloor and Naakaikkaaronam. It is believed that worshipping twice the Deity of this place is like worshipping all the holy places of Lord Siva in the world.

To tread across this sacred place is to get the benediction of living in this place. A person who lives in this holy city and conducts a righteous life is blessed with good spouse, good children and also rich recompense. By just uttering once the name 'Kanraappur', all sins get abolished, a person is relieved of diseases and is blessed with good life.

In the inside paved corridor the sanctum of Lords Vinayaka, Sundareswarar, Six types of Vinayakar, Muruga, Durgai, Lingodhbhavar, Karpakanaathar are seen. Of the Naalvar adjacent to Sani Bhagawan, two appear to be Thrujnanacampantar and two as Appar. The other two are not to be seen.

Do's:

  • Do pray Your Ishta Devata before Pilgrimage to temple
  • Do Contact Temple Devasthanam information center for inquiry ,temple information and for pooja details etc.
  • Do reserve your travel and accommodation at temple well in advance.
  • Do bath and wear clean clothes before you enter the temple
  • Do concentrate on God and Goddess inside the temple.
  • Do maintain silence and recite your Istamantram to yourself inside the temple.
  • Do observe ancient custom and traditions while in Temple.
  • Do deposit your offerings in the hundi only

Don't s:

  • Do not come to Temple for any Purpose other than worshiping of God and Goddess
  • Do not smoke at Temple.
  • Do not consume alcoholic drinks at Temple
  • Do not Eat Non Vegetarian food in the Kshetram
  • Do not approach mediators for quick Dharshanam. It may cause inconvenient to others
  • Do not carry any weapon inside the temple
  • Do not wear any head guards like helmets ,caps ,turbans and hats inside the temple premises