Thenthiruperai Kailasanathar Temple – Seventh Nava Kailasam Temple at Thenthiruperai in Tirunelveli District

Thenthiruperai Kailasanathar Temple is one of the Nava Kailasam Temples and is dedicated to Lord Shiva. It is located at Thenthiruperai in Tirunelveli District, Tamil Nadu. This temple is associated with Budha (Mercury), among the Navgrahas. The shrine is around 30 km from Tirunelveli Town.

This is the seventh among the nine Nava Kailasam temples and is also known as Ponnammai Sametha Kailasanathar Temple.

Shiva is worshipped here as Kailasanathar. Mother Goddess Shakti is worshipped as Alakiya Ponnammai. Nandi murti is found facing the main Shivling.

The subsidiary deities worshipped here include Navgrahas, Bhairava, Ganesha, Muruga with his consort Valli.

Vilwa is the tree associated with the temple.

Most important festival observed here is the Shivratri.

Coconut With Horn in the Temple

There is a coconut with horn in the temple. It is said that once a British Army officer wanted to have a tender coconut. But nearby there was only one coconut grove and all the tender coconut in it were for anointing the murtis in Thenthiruperai Kailasanathar Temple. So the keeper of the grove denied the officer tender coconut.

An angry officer wanted to know what was so special about the coconuts in grove. He asked whether the coconut in the grove had horns.

He demanded a tender coconut be plucked from the grove. When the coconut was given to the officer he found horns sprouting from it.

The officer soon realized his mistake, made offerings at the shrine, and asked for forgiveness.

The coconut with horns can be still seen in the temple.

Thenthiruperai Kailasanathar Temple Timings

Morning Pooja and Darshan Time: 5:00 AM to 12:00 PM

Evening Pooja and Darshan Time: 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM