BLOGS Stay Near Arulmigu Kotha Parameswarar Temple, Kunnathur | Nava Kailayam 4th Temple — Rahu Sthalam Nava Kailasam Temples May 5, 2026 Kotha Parameswarar Temple, Kotha Parameswarar Temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and is located at Kunnathur village in Tirunelveli District, Tamil Nadu. The temple is located atop a small hill and Shiva is worshipped here as Kothai Parameswaran. His consort is Goddess Sivakamasundari. This is the fourth among the nine Nava Kailayam temples and is an important place associated with Navagraha Rahu. This fourth Nava Kailayam temple, situated on the banks of the Thamirabarani, is considered the sacred place to worship and get relief from all misfortunes due to Rahu. The Sthala Vriksham is the Vilvam tree and the temple follows the Kamiga Agamam tradition. What makes this temple extraordinary is a breathtaking rareness the Shiva Lingam worshipped here is unique as it has a snake sculpted directly on it this is the only temple where a snake is seen carved into the Lingam itself. For pilgrims on the Nava Kailayam Yatra, Ananta Vihara in Thirukolur is the most peaceful and conveniently located homestay base across the entire circuit. In the east-facing sanctum sanctorum, Swami Kotha Parameswara appears as a Lingam Thirumeni. It is special to see the serpent imprint on the Lingam a divine symbol of Rahu’s sacred presence in this kshetram. The Goddess is worshipped in a separate south-facing shrine with her own separate Vimana. Apart from the main deity and Goddess, the following deities are also worshipped here: Nandi, Dakshinamurthy, Kannimoola Ganapathy, Arumugunainar, Chandikeswarar, Bhairava, and Valli-Deyavan with Murugan making it a beautifully complete Shiva temple despite its modest size. In the outer side of this temple, an Arumuganainar statue is formed in a single stone with Thiruvachi — a rare and remarkable sculptural achievement. A serpent mark is found on the main deity’s Lingam chest. The Meaning — Why “Kunnathur”? Kunnathur is also called Chenkaani — Kaani meaning land and Chenkaani meaning land of red soil. Since it is situated on a small hillock — Kundru in Tamil — it is also known as Kundrathur, which over time became Kunnathur. In ancient times it was called Keelvembunattu Chenkaani alias Navaninarayana Sathurvedhimangalam. The Legend — The Rare Fruit & the Pregnant Woman Once there was a king ruling this area who had a very rare tree near his palace. The tree would flower only once and yield only one fruit — which had the powers of giving eternal youth and strength to whoever consumed it. The king carefully safeguarded the tree, as the fruit was meant for him alone. One day, a pregnant woman was carrying a pot of water from the river and passed by the tree. The ripe fruit fell into her pot without her realizing it. The next day, not finding the fruit, the king ordered a house-to-house search and located the pregnant woman. The woman, frightened, prayed to Lord Shiva — and the Lord appeared to protect her, ultimately blessing the child she carried with divine grace. The king, humbled by the Lord’s intervention, became a devoted Shiva bhakta. This sacred site where the Lord protected an innocent soul from royal wrath became the Kotha Parameswarar kshetram — Kotha meaning the one who protects. The Equivalent of Kalahasti — A Sacred Trinity Kunnathur is one of three temples in close vicinity of each other: the Gotha Parameswarar Temple at Kunnathur, the Varadaraja Perumal Temple at Keela Thiruvengadanathapuram, and the Venkatachalapati Temple at Mela Thiruvengadanathapuram. Together, these three temples are considered the equivalent of Kalahasti, Keezh Tirupati, and Mel Tirupati — and it is customary to visit all three together. It is believed that praying at this group of temples carries the same, if not greater, merit as praying at the corresponding temples at Kalahasti and Tirupati. Furthermore, it is believed that any prayers in the form of venduthal meant for Tirupati can be fulfilled here — but not the reverse. This makes Kunnathur not just a Nava Kailayam stop — but a complete pilgrimage circuit of extraordinary spiritual significance! A Temple Resurrected by Devotion As time passed, this temple began to lose its prominence. A few years ago there were around 100 houses near the temple premises. Due to the unanimous efforts of devoted Shiva devotees of this area, the Lord’s house was slowly resurrected. In those earlier times it was impossible for priests to even enter the sanctum sanctorum to perform poojas, as there were huge serpents lying on the idol of the Lord. Now, poojas are performed regularly at this temple. Historical Significance From the information of this temple’s inscriptions, the temple was built in the 13th century. King Veerapandian donated 4,200 units of money to this temple for daily poojas. There is a land scale in this temple — which, from inscriptions, was used to resolve disputes about land boundaries. From the copper inscriptions preserved at the Nellaiappar Temple in Tirunelveli, this temple was called Thirunaangeesaneri and the deity was called Thirunaagessar — similarly to the famous Thirunaageswaram Rahu Sthalam near Kumbakonam. Navagraha Significance — Rahu Sthalam Worshipping Lord Shiva at this site is considered equal to worshipping at Thirunageswaram near Kumbakonam — one of the most powerful Rahu Sthalam temples in all of Tamil Nadu. Worshipping here rectifies the following problems: stomach problems, mental disorder, haemorrhoids, marital problems, infertility, and academic hardship. This temple is special for Viruchigam (Scorpio) and Mesha (Aries) Rasi devotees. Devotees throng here for relief from Rahu dosham and Naga dosham. Those who do not have children pray here for children. Devotees pray here for: Relief from Rahu dosha Relief from Naga (serpent) dosha Child boon for childless couples Stomach and digestive health Mental peace and clarity Removal of marriage obstacles Academic and career success Scorpio (Viruchigam) & Aries (Mesha) Rasi blessings Special Days: Rahu Kalam prayers on Wednesdays, Pournami (Full Moon), and Pradosham are considered most powerful here. Temple Open Hours: 6:00 AM – 11:00 AM & 5:00
Stay Close to Vaithamanidhi Perumal Temple, Thirukolur | Ananta Vihara | Just 2 Minutes Away!
BLOGS Stay Near Arulmigu Papanasa Nathar Temple, Papanasam | Nava Kailayam 1st Temple — Surya (Sun) Sthalam Nava Kailasam Temples May 4, 2026 Thirupuliyangudi Perumal Temple Vaithamanidhi Perumal Temple, located in the village of Thirukolur in Thoothukudi district, is the eighth temple of the sacred Nava Tirupati circuit dedicated to Lord Vishnu. It is one of the 108 Divya Desams glorified in the Nalayira Divya Prabandham by the Alvar saints, and is associated with the planet Angaraka (Mars) and also known as Kuberasthalam. This is the home temple of Ananta Vihara — our homestay is located just a 2-minute walk from this sacred shrine at 1/42 Mutharamanan Kovil Street, Thirukolur. Pilgrims staying with us can attend early morning prayers, evening aarthi, and all festivals without any travel — truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience for devoted pilgrims. The presiding deity Vaithamanidhi Perumal is in a reclining posture on Adisesha facing East, resting his head on a Marakkal — a wooden measuring vessel meant for measuring wealth. He is looking at the palm of his left hand as if watching over the location of wealth. He is said to hold the Nava Nidhis — the nine forms of divine wealth — under his right shoulder. The festival deity (Urchava Murthy) is hailed as Nishepavithan, who stands in a four-armed posture with Sridevi and Bhudevi. On the Lord’s right is the shrine dedicated to Kolurvalli Thayar (Sridevi) and to his left is Kumudha Valli Thayar (Bhudevi). A granite wall surrounds the temple, enclosing all its shrines. The Rajagopuram, the temple’s gateway tower, is three-tiered in structure. The Vimana above the sanctum is called the Srikara Vimana. The temple’s history traces back to the Chola period, with the oldest inscriptions dating to the reign of Raja Raja I (late 10th–early 11th century CE). The original structure was later refurbished by Rani Mangammal (1689–1704 CE). The Meaning — Why “Vaithamanidhi”? The name Vaithamanidhi means “Possessor of Treasures” — the Lord who safeguarded Kubera’s nine forms of wealth when he was cursed. It is believed that people who pray here are blessed with great wealth and recovery of lost fortunes. The Legend — Kubera & the Nine Forms of Wealth Kubera, the lord of wealth, once cast a lustful glance at Goddess Parvati, the consort of Lord Shiva. An enraged Shiva cursed Kubera to lose the sight in one eye, lose his nine forms of wealth, and roam in a terrible form. The nine forms of wealth of Kubera immediately sought refuge at the feet of Lord Vishnu in Thirukolur on the banks of the Thamirabarani River. Repenting for his sin, Kubera sought the aid of Lord Shiva, who directed him to Goddess Parvati. Parvati then instructed Kubera to go to Thirukolur and perform penance to Lord Vishnu, where his nine forms of wealth had already sought refuge. Kubera performed severe austerities in Thirukolur. Lord Vishnu, pleased with Kubera’s penance, appeared before him and bestowed redemption from the curse, granting a part of the wealth that he had lost. Lord Vishnu in Thirukolur thus came to be hailed as Vaithamanidhi Perumal for safeguarding Kubera’s nine forms of wealth. The Legend of Dharmagupta — Wealth Through Devotion Dharmagupta, a person with eight children who was in utter poverty, sought the refuge of his Guru Bhartbaja, who revealed that in his previous life he had lied to the king regarding his fortune and had not used his wealth righteously. The Guru directed him to go to Thirukolur and worship Vaithamanidhi Perumal. Following his Guru’s instructions, Dharmagupta worshipped here and received the grace of the Lord, who absolved him of his sins and blessed him with wealth — putting an end to his poverty forever. Birthplace of Madhurakavi Alvar Thirukolur is the birthplace of Madhurakavi Alvar — one of the twelve celebrated poet saints of Vaishnavism. Madhurakavi Alvar was an ardent devotee of Nammalvar and his sacred songs are eternally linked to this holy place. The temple has a special shrine dedicated to Madhurakavi Alvar within its precincts — making Thirukolur a town of immense Vaishnava heritage. Navagraha Significance — Sevvai (Mars) Sthalam The temple is associated with the planet Angaraka (Mars / Sevvai) and is known as a Sevvai Dosha Parihara Sthalam — a sacred place for relief from the adverse effects of Mars. Chandra, the Moon God, is also believed to have been relieved of his curse by praying at this temple. Devotees pray here for: Relief from Sevvai (Mars) dosha Recovery of lost wealth and property Removal of financial difficulties Blessings for childless couples Academic excellence for students Success in litigation and legal matters Relief from Kubera dosha & ancestral curses Special Day: Tuesday (Sevvai Kilamai) prayers are considered most powerful here. Architecture Constructed in the Dravidian style of architecture, all the shrines of the temple are located within a rectangular granite structure with two prakarams. The temple has an imposing image of Vishnu in Sayana posture, with a lotus stalk emerging from his navel bearing an image of Brahma. The feet of the deity can be viewed through a special passage. Temple Open Hours: 6:00 AM – 12:00 PM & 5:00 PM – 8:30 PM (Six poojas performed daily) Major Festivals The Avani Festival, held during the Tamil month of Avani (August–September), is a 10-day Brahmotsavam commemorating the avatar day of the deity on Punarvasu Nakshatra. It includes daily morning and evening processions of Vaithamanidhi Perumal on different vehicles, culminating in Garuda Sevai on the fifth night and a grand chariot procession through the four streets surrounding the temple. Vaikuntha Ekadashi, spanning 10 days in the Tamil month of Margazhi (December–January), opens the Vaikuntha Vasal (celestial gate) allowing devotees symbolic entry into Vishnu’s abode. The festival features elaborate processions, recitations of sacred texts, and night-long vigils with special abhishekam of the deity. The Nammalvar Garuda Sevai in Vaikasi (May–June) honors Alvar saint Nammalvar through a unique collective ritual across all Nava Tirupati temples. The festival idols from all nine temples, including Vaithamanidhi Perumal, are
Stay Close to Vaithamanidhi Perumal Temple, Thirukolur | Ananta Vihara | Just 2 Minutes Away!
BLOGS Stay Close to Vaithamanidhi Perumal Temple, Thirukolur | Ananta Vihara — Just 2 Minutes Away! Nava Tirupathi Temples April 30, 2026 Vaithamanidhi Perumal Temple Vaithamanidhi Perumal Temple, located in the village of Thirukolur in Thoothukudi district, is the eighth temple of the sacred Nava Tirupati circuit dedicated to Lord Vishnu. It is one of the 108 Divya Desams glorified in the Nalayira Divya Prabandham by the Alvar saints, and is associated with the planet Angaraka (Mars) and also known as Kuberasthalam. This is the home temple of Ananta Vihara our homestay is located just a 2-minute walk from this sacred shrine at 1/42 Mutharamanan Kovil Street, Thirukolur. Pilgrims staying with us can attend early morning prayers, evening aarthi, and all festivals without any travel truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience for devoted pilgrims. The presiding deity Vaithamanidhi Perumal is in a reclining posture on Adisesha facing East, resting his head on a Marakkal a wooden measuring vessel meant for measuring wealth. He is looking at the palm of his left hand as if watching over the location of wealth. He is said to hold the Nava Nidhis the nine forms of divine wealth under his right shoulder. The festival deity (Urchava Murthy) is hailed as Nishepavithan, who stands in a four-armed posture with Sridevi and Bhudevi. On the Lord’s right is the shrine dedicated to Kolurvalli Thayar (Sridevi) and to his left is Kumudha Valli Thayar (Bhudevi). A granite wall surrounds the temple, enclosing all its shrines. The Rajagopuram, the temple’s gateway tower, is three-tiered in structure. The Vimana above the sanctum is called the Srikara Vimana. The temple’s history traces back to the Chola period, with the oldest inscriptions dating to the reign of Raja Raja I (late 10th–early 11th century CE). The original structure was later refurbished by Rani Mangammal (1689–1704 CE). The Meaning — Why “Vaithamanidhi”? The name Vaithamanidhi means “Possessor of Treasures” the Lord who safeguarded Kubera’s nine forms of wealth when he was cursed. It is believed that people who pray here are blessed with great wealth and recovery of lost fortunes. The Legend — Kubera & the Nine Forms of Wealth Kubera, the lord of wealth, once cast a lustful glance at Goddess Parvati, the consort of Lord Shiva. An enraged Shiva cursed Kubera to lose the sight in one eye, lose his nine forms of wealth, and roam in a terrible form. The nine forms of wealth of Kubera immediately sought refuge at the feet of Lord Vishnu in Thirukolur on the banks of the Thamirabarani River. Repenting for his sin, Kubera sought the aid of Lord Shiva, who directed him to Goddess Parvati. Parvati then instructed Kubera to go to Thirukolur and perform penance to Lord Vishnu, where his nine forms of wealth had already sought refuge. Kubera performed severe austerities in Thirukolur. Lord Vishnu, pleased with Kubera’s penance, appeared before him and bestowed redemption from the curse, granting a part of the wealth that he had lost. Lord Vishnu in Thirukolur thus came to be hailed as Vaithamanidhi Perumal for safeguarding Kubera’s nine forms of wealth. The Legend of Dharmagupta — Wealth Through Devotion Dharmagupta, a person with eight children who was in utter poverty, sought the refuge of his Guru Bhartbaja, who revealed that in his previous life he had lied to the king regarding his fortune and had not used his wealth righteously. The Guru directed him to go to Thirukolur and worship Vaithamanidhi Perumal. Following his Guru’s instructions, Dharmagupta worshipped here and received the grace of the Lord, who absolved him of his sins and blessed him with wealth putting an end to his poverty forever. Birthplace of Madhurakavi Alvar Thirukolur is the birthplace of Madhurakavi Alvar one of the twelve celebrated poet saints of Vaishnavism. Madhurakavi Alvar was an ardent devotee of Nammalvar and his sacred songs are eternally linked to this holy place. The temple has a special shrine dedicated to Madhurakavi Alvar within its precincts making Thirukolur a town of immense Vaishnava heritage. Navagraha Significance — Sevvai (Mars) Sthalam The temple is associated with the planet Angaraka (Mars / Sevvai) and is known as a Sevvai Dosha Parihara Sthalam a sacred place for relief from the adverse effects of Mars. Chandra, the Moon God, is also believed to have been relieved of his curse by praying at this temple. Devotees pray here for: Relief from Sevvai (Mars) dosha Recovery of lost wealth and property Removal of financial difficulties Blessings for childless couples Academic excellence for students Success in litigation and legal matters Relief from Kubera dosha & ancestral curses Special Day: Tuesday (Sevvai Kilamai) prayers are considered most powerful here. Architecture Constructed in the Dravidian style of architecture, all the shrines of the temple are located within a rectangular granite structure with two prakarams. The temple has an imposing image of Vishnu in Sayana posture, with a lotus stalk emerging from his navel bearing an image of Brahma. The feet of the deity can be viewed through a special passage. Temple Open Hours: 7:30 AM – 12:00 PM & 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM Temple Contact: 4639 273 902 Major Festivals Six daily rituals and three yearly festivals are held at the temple. The ten-day annual Vaikuntha Ekadashi during the Tamil month of Margazhi (December–January) and the Nammalvar birth celebrations with Garuda Sevai with all nine Nava Tirupati temples are the most prominent. The Garuda Sevai Utsavam in the month of Vaikasi (May–June) witnesses nine Garudasevai a spectacular event in which festival idols from all nine Nava Tirupati shrines are brought on Garuda vahanas. An idol of Nammalvar is also brought here on a palanquin and his pasurams dedicated to each of the nine temples are recited. Other key festivals: Panguni Pournami — March–April (Special — the day Bhudevi offered the earrings!) Vaikuntha Ekadashi — December–January (10 days) Brahmotsavam — Vaikasi (May–June) Nammalvar Birth Celebrations How to Reach From Distance Route Tirunelveli ~38 km Bus / Taxi Alwarthirunagari ~5 km Auto / Taxi Tiruchendur ~25 km
