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Tamilnadu Sankaranarayanar Temple
A small town near Tirunelveli of Tamil Nadu state is where the temple Sankaranarayanar located at. The temple is well known for its "Adi Thabasu" festival along with other religious functions held in its premises. The town Sankaran Koil is also named after the temple and had been earlier known as Sankara kovil.
This is one of the main temples in South India and houses the deity Ankara Narayanan. This deity is supposedly a mix of Lord Shiva and Vishnu both celestial lords as per Hindu mythology. The temple also houses a deity named Avudai Ambal-RR.
History
Like every religious shrine the Sankaranarayanar Temple has its own associated stories behind its creation. Historical records indicate that the temple had been built around 900 AD by the Dravidian king of the region Ukira Pandiyan. The story says that devotees of Shiva and Vishnu got into a quarrel to find that between the two who is the more powerful. To make peace among the devotees the Lord appeared in the conjoined form of both Shiva and Vishnu. This act was done to indicate the oneness of the Lord or Supreme Being. However discord amongst the two groups of staunch followers is not settled yet. The Srivaishnavites who worship Lord Vishnu have not accepted the deity and temple as it has the conjoined form of Lord Shiva also in it.
The other tale mentions about a celestial angel who was being cursed and placed on earth as a gardener in the king's garden. While clearing the snake pit the cursed angel found a snake tail that had been cut off from the rest of the body. On hearing this news, the king looked upon it as a celestial message and built the temple around this spot. The temple had been built by the king during the Pandava reign.
According to some other mythological tales the temple has a tank that has been dug by serpent kings Paduman and Sangam. This tank is considered to be a holy tank.
How to reach
Air
Madurai is the closest place where air link is available for going to Shankara Kovil and the Sankaranarayanar temple. Madurai itself connects Chennai and Bangalore through flights.
Rail
Shankara Koil is well linked by rails. There are superfast trains like the Padhigai Express from Egmore & Chennai station as well as passenger trains to Shengottai. The passenger trains travel between Shengottai and Madurai and passes through Shankara Koil. Three such passenger trains ply between Shengottai and Madurai having stoppage at Shankara Koil.
Road
For road link, Shankara Koil is linked to Chennai, Coimbatore and Bangalore. Private bus service runs between these main cities and Shankara Koil. The buses start from their sources at night and reach Shankara Koil at wee hours of the morning.
Important Shrines
There are three main divisions in the temple complex. Each dedicated to one particular celestial lord. Shiva, Sankaranarayanar & Vishnu interposed upon each other and Gomati Amman is one of the three deities who have their shrines in the temple complex.
The southern side of temple is the abode of Lord Siva and the northern part is where Goddess Parvathi resides as Gomathi Amman. Each has their own separate sanctums. In the centre area the idol of Sankaranarayanar which depicts the oneness of Lord Shiva and Vishnu is placed.
Significance
While the overall temple has the major significance as a symbol of the oneness of the celestial Lords, the tank within the temple complex and the sand that surrounds the pond is supposed to have great healing powers. Mythology has it that the tank itself was dug up by serpent kings and therefore their holy touch persists upon the sand in this area. Especially Skin disease is supposed to be cured by application of this sand upon the body.
Accommodation
For accommodation visitors should seek into Tirunelveli which is approximately 58 Km away from Shankara Koil town. Hotels at reasonable rates are available in this town and visitors could easily go to visit the temple premise from here.
Tips
The summer seasons in the region experiences very high temperatures. Visitors and devotees would be comfortable visiting the temple in the months of September to February.
The art that is engraved upon the structures of the temple holds not only secrets of the talent of artisans in that era but also depict stories about that time.
Rules and Rituals
The most important festival that is conducted in this temple is Adi Thabasu festival that is celebrated in Poongavanakshethram every year. This is to commemorate Parvathi’s penance for seeing Lord Vishnu and Shiva at the same time being satisfied. In the months of July or August based on lunar positioning the festival is held at the temple for eleven days.
Daily rituals consist of Annadhanam scheme wherein 100 devotees are given food every day.
Other religious functions is the Iyppasi Thirukkalyanam festival celebrated for 10 days in October and Theppam floating festival celebrated on last Friday of month February.
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