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Tirugnana Sambandar
as a child devotee of Lord Shiva and blessed with a high degree of poetic abilities by Mother Parvathi, fought the Jains who waged a war against Saivism. 

According to the literary history of Tamilnadu, it was Child Sambandar and the ripe old Saivite saint, who had a first hand knowledge and experience of the Jain designs fought the war together.  In the various challenges Sambandar was drawn, he defeated the Jains and re-established the glory of Saivism in Tamilnadu and almost eliminated Jainism from the Tamil soil.

As was agreed between Sambandar and the Jains, the latter were hanged after Sambandar won every challenge.  However, Sambandar had to incur the sin of causing the death of the Jains and wanted to go to Kasi to make amends for the sin.  He prayed for the permission of Lord Shiva in Sirkali to proceed to Kasi

Lord appeared before Sambandar and brought Ganga here itself.  The child saint had a dip in holy Ganga and got relieved of the sin.  A temple was erected here later.

Festival:

New Moon day in the month of Thai (January-February) and Full Moon day in the month of Chithirai (April-May) are the festivals grandly celebrated in the temple.

Opening time:

The temple is open from 6.00 a.m. to 10.30 a.m. and 5.00 p.m. to 7.30 p.m.



Velladainathar graces as a Banalinga on a square Peeta in the sanctum sanctorum. River Ganga sprang in the well here on the New Moon day in the Thai month (January-February).
Based on this story, the holy spring is opened for the use of devotees on this day only and will be closed during the rest of the year

Lord Vinayaka in the temple is on a Lotus seat with an umbrella above Him and two fans called Samaram.  Lord Muruga, against the tradition of facing East, is seen facing the South, a direction attributed to Guru. 

Lord Muruga is revered as Jupiter-Dakshinamurthy in this temple.  He graces with His consorts Valli and Deivanai.  Special pujas are performed in His shrine on Thursdays, a day attributed to Guru.  There are shrines for Mother Durga with eight hands and Sattainathar.  There is no shrine for Navagrahas  the 9 planets.  

The procession idol of Gnanasambandar is brought to this temple from the Sirkali Brahmmapureeswarar temple.  The Presiding deity of this temple (Velladainathar) and Goddess (Kavianganni) grants audience to Sambandar and give him the Theertham.  Sambandar returns to Sirkali in the evening.  This is celebrated as grand festival.

During his pilgrimage, Saivite Saint Sundarar came to this place to worship Shiva, but could not find the temple as the place was a dense jungle then.  He sadly continued his journey with his followers. When he felt very hungry, an old man came to him and said that he was feeding Shiva devotees at a nearby place and asked him to come there for a lunch. 

Sundarar and his followers enjoyed a good feast coupled with hospitality of the host.  After the lunch, Sundarar slept for a while as he was very tired then.  When he woke up, he found neither the feeding camp nor any sign of feeding event.  He realized that it was Lord Shiva who quenched his hunger. 

Lord Shiva appeared before Sundarar and showed him the temple.
This Feeding event is celebrated as a great festival on the Full Moon Day of the month of Chithirai (April-May) in the temple.  Devotees believe that worshipping the Lord here would ensure them a life free of hunger.

Moolavar:Velladainathar 
Urchavar:Somaskandar 
Amman / Thayar:Kavianganni


Do's:

  • Do pray your Ishta Devata before pilgrimage to Temple.
  • Do contact Temple Devasthanam information centre for enquiry, 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 Om Namahsivaya or your Istamantram to yourself inside the temple.
  • Do observe ancient custom and traditions while in Temple.
  • Do respect religious sentiments at Temple.
  • Do deposit your offerings in the hundi only.

Don't s:

  • Do not come to Temple for any purpose other than worshipping 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 Darshanam. 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.
  • Do not perform Sastanga Pranama inside the Sanctum Sanctorum.
  • Do not take much time while performing Sparsa Darshanam to God in Garbhagriha.
  • Do not buy spurious prasadams from street vendors.
  • Do not encourage beggars at Temple.
  • Do not spit or create nuisance in the premises of the temple.