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Cheranmahadevi Kailasanathar Temple in Tirunelveli - Second Nava Kailasam Temple

Cheranmahadevi Kailasanathar Temple is one of the Nava Kailasam Temples and is dedicated to Lord Shiva. It is located at Cheranmahadevi in Tirunelveli District, Tamil Nadu. This temple is associated with Chandra, or the moon god, among the Navagrahas. The shrine is around 20 km from Tirunelveli town.

This is the second among the nine Nava Kailasam temples.


The shrine is located on the right bank of Tamirabarani River.

The Shivling worshipped in the temple is believed to have been installed by Sage Romasa.
Legend has it that two sisters worshiped the original Swayambhu Shivling in the temple. The two sisters wanted to build a temple for the Shivling. They started saving money for the purpose.

Shiva one day decided to test their devotion. He came in the disguise of a Shiva Bhakta and demanded food. The two sisters readily agreed to feed him. But the Shiva Bhakta was not ready to eat in dark. He demanded some form of light.

The sisters were poor and they had no light. But as the sisters did not want to disappoint a Shiva Bhakta, one of the sister broke a coconut and added ghee and put a wick in it and light a lamp.
Shiva was moved by their devotion and showed his original form. He also blessed them with wealth and prosperity. They used the wealth to build a temple.



The temple was later modified by Chola kings.

Shiva is worshipped here as Ammainathar or Kailasanathar . Mother Goddess Shakti is worshipped as Avudainayagi or Oppilla Nayagi Amman.

Subsidiary deities worshipped in the temple include Vinayaka, Subrahmanyan, Viswanatha, Nataraja, Nalvar, Karaikal Ammaiyar, Nava Kanniar and Navagrahas.

The Nandi murti in the temple is not exactly facing the Shivling. It is slightly moved away from the center. Legend has it that Shiva had asked Nandi to move from the center so that Nandanar, his ardent devotee could have darshan on him. Nandanar was born in a low caste and people did not let him inside the shrine. But he used to worship from outside and Shiva therefore asked Nandi to move to the side so that his devotee can have darshan of him.

Cheranmahadevi Kailasanathar Temple Timings
Morning Pooja and Darshan Time: 6:00 AM to 10:00 AM
Evening Pooja and Darshan Time: 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM

Special offering the temple is ghee lamp in coconut placed atop a pile of rice. Pomegranate juice abhishekam of Mother Goddess is considered highly meritorious.

Related
Kodaganallur Kailasanathar Temple in Thirunelveli - Third Nava Kailasam Shiva Temple