Kannudaya Nayagi - the guardian deity of the eyes. She protects the eyes of her devotees. It is not surprising to find devotees praying here to cure their eye ailments. This temple is set amidst a tiny hamlet in Nattarasan Kottai near Sivaganga in Tamilnadu. The Goddess here is very powerful and a swaymbhu moorthy (self manifested) The granite idol is always decked up with jewels and silk and flowers. This temple is also known as Kananthal temple; very ancient believed to have been built in the 18th century.
Utsavar ,Goddesss Parasakthi is seen here with 8 hands.
Devotees offer eyes made of silver metal ( flat eye shapes are cast in metal) to the deity and seek blessing from her. Devotees also offer salt to deity to ward off skin and stomach ailments. Temple gets crowded during Navarathri.
The temple mandapam is huge and has a beautiful water tank in front - this is a very common feature in all temples in Sivaganga district. Vinayaka shrine is very near to the pond.
A few miles away from the temple lies the famous Kalayar Koil. Shall write about it in my next post.
Great Tamil poet Kambar who translated Ramayana into Tamil is laid to rest in this town and the tomb is just a few meters from the temple click here to see pictures.
I also found local women selling handmade eco friendly, colurful items just outside the temple. Got a couple of those as souvenir. Thought I should share what I captured. These colorful items are made of palm leaf and reed and coloured using natural dyes.
Pictures of temple here in this link.
https://photos.google.com/album/AF1QipNUjMbszPMTn3MK2GHZdzFTe2QRbbGliJD60uc6?key=CNSoyaenvI_4Eg
I also found local women selling handmade eco friendly, colurful items just outside the temple. Got a couple of those as souvenir. Thought I should share what I captured. These colorful items are made of palm leaf and reed and coloured using natural dyes.
Pictures of temple here in this link.
https://photos.google.com/album/AF1QipNUjMbszPMTn3MK2GHZdzFTe2QRbbGliJD60uc6?key=CNSoyaenvI_4Eg
Nattarasan kottai -51 kms from Madurai.
temple timing 6 am- 1pm
4.30 pm -8.30 pm.
24 comments:
Beautiful photos all. Loved those hats and other stuff in the picture. Is it cane?
Thank you sharing details and exquisite pics of this wonderful temple and teertham. The colorful handicrafts are lovely.
guardian of eyes
beautiful photos
Thanks for the excellent narration and beautiful photos.
Mridula,
Yes, cane and a variety of palm leaf.
Ramakrishnan, thanks a lot.
sm-thanks a lot
SG
Happy you liked the narration. thanks a lot.
Beautiful. The pillars in the Mandapam are superbly crafted and I was unable to believe that they were created in the 18th century. The colourful pouches and other items immediately reminded me of the skills of the women in the Nattukottai Chettiars homes. I wish I could go there.
PNS, I think exterior of the temple would have been built later on . In 18th century there would have been a small shrine..Do not have clear information on that.But the pillars look unique .
Beautiful Chitra..I too echo the feelings of PNS.. Wish I could go there..!
It goes to show that structures build in that era , were built to last .. and today with so much technology and what not .. new building fall :)
beautiful pictures ..
Bikram's
I've so enjoyed learning about Kannudaya Nayagi. Great photos as always, I'm intrigued by the carvings on the columns.
Sridharan,
You can plan a visit and I am sure your camera will have lot work to do..
Bikram- what you say is v.true..It is amazing to find old structure still going strong..
thanks PW.
Very beautiful! Its for the first time that I am learning about the Goddess of eyes. As always, I loved my virtual tour with you with your beautiful pictures and write up. I dont know if I ever will be able to be at these places but feel so fortunate to see them all here, many thanks for sharing.
thanks a lot Arti,
i am happy to know, you enjoyed the virtual trip to this temple
Chitra ma'am,
I liked the pictures of rattles and winnows hand made; its not easy to find them in cities nowadays. Nattarasan kottai...was mentioned in a movie Sivakasi. It was Vijay's hometown in the movie :) The name rang a bell; so thought of sharing it here :)
Hi Bindu, I haven't seen that movie..you have really good memory power o remember a place mentioned in a movie..hats off:)
wow...loved this one...
superb yar..am a fan of yr enthusiasm
thanks Ashok
Thanks Rameshji
Visited this temple in sept last year. Very nice & quite.
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