Arulmigu Kasi Visvanatha Swamy Temple is located in a busy locality in Tenkasi. The full name of the Temple is Sri Ulagamman Udanurai Sri Kasi Viswanathar Temple. Devotees may have to climb 5 to 6 steps to reach the Temple entrance and they have kept two Elephant Idols on either side of these steps. Sri Kaasi Viswanathar Temple in Thenkasi is an East facing Temple which has been gorgeously painted and the Rajagopuram comprises of 9 tiers. In fact the previous Rajagopuram looked rickety and in ruins but recently they had renovated it and repainted to give it a more appealing look. To the left of the Rajagopuram is an East facing Ganapathy Shrine and to the right is another East facing Mahishasuramardhini Shrine. Beneath the Rajagopuram there are Idols for Adhikara Nandhi and Nandhikeshwarar who are seen in a standing posture. There is an old saying that North has Vada Kasi and the Middle has Sivakasi and the South has Tenkasi. This Temple was supposed to have been built by the great Pandya Ruler King Parakrama Pandyan during the early 13th century. In fact the King thought of going to Kasi in North India to fetch a Lingam and build a Temple here. In a bizarre dream that he had, Lord Shiva ordered him something unusual and unheard of. So the next day the bewildered King followed an Army of Ants and built this Temple where the Ants had finally stopped. It is heartening to note that eminent persons like Kousigar, Narathar, Muruganda Kanvar had come to this Temple to Worship. On entering the Temple there is small Prasada Counter behind which an Auditorium in the name of Harikesari Parakrama Pandiyan has been built. Close to this is a Temple Library. There is a huge multi pillared Mandapam and all those pillars are carved intricately. This is one of the rare Temples in which an Idol of Manmadhan and Rathi have been embossed on the pillars. This Temple does not have a Dwajasthamabam but instead there is a huge Bali Peedam or Neivedhya Peedam. Close to this is a Navagraha Sannadhi which is mounted on an elevated podium. Strangely the Navagraham have also been kept side to side so that they are seen in a single rank. There are two huge Dwara Balakaas on either side of the threshold of the Moolasthanam and close to them are Ganapathy Idols on either side. A West facing Durgai Amman too is seen nearby. Devotees may have to climb 5 to 6 steps to reach the Moolasthanam and all the pillars here are embossed with Yaali Idols. There is a huge Ganapathy Idol, Somaskandar and a Nataraja Idol just before entering the Moolasthanam. The Presiding Deity of Kasi Viswanathar is East facing and in the form of a Shiva Lingam. He looks resplendent and is considered as an incarnation of Lord Shiva. Around the Koshtam there are Idols for Dhakshinamoorthy, Maha Vishnu, Brahmma and Chandikeshwarar. The Consort here is Goddess Ulagamman who is also seen in a separate Shrine. She is East facing and in a standing posture. Between the Shrines of the Presiding Deity Kasi Viswanathar and His Consort Goddess Ulagamman there is a Shrine for Bala Murugan and this Shrine too is East facing. Apart from them, the Temple has Sub Shrines for the 63 Nayanmaars, Sapthamathas, Juradevar, Kanni Moola Ganapathy, Somasundarar, Pancha Lingam, Ayyanar, Chandramouleeswar, Maha Lakshmi, Shanmugar, Gajalakshmi, Arumuga Nayanar, Chandikeshwari, Saneeswarar and Vyagrabadhar. The Sthala Viruksham of the Temple is Shenbaga Maram. There is a Divine Temple Well known as Kasi Punniya Theertham. Vinayagar Chathurthi, Aippasi Annabishegam, Arudhra Dharisanam, Masi Magam, Pradhosham, Navarathri, Maha Shivarathiri are some of the festivals are celebrated in a grand manner.

Contact Details: Guru Bhattar 74021 58077 and Sriram Archagar 99448 70886 (Call Between 12.30 PM to 3.30 PM)

Temple Timing: 6 AM to 12 Noon and 4 to 8.30 PM

Distance from Madurai to Tenkasi is 206 Kms

Distance from Trichy to Tenkasi is 300 Kms

Distance from Thirunelveli to Tenkasi is 61 Kms

Distance from Thoothukudi to Tenkasi is 106 Kms

Distance from Thiruchendur to Tenkasi is 113 Kms

Distance from Nagerkoil to Tenkasi is 135 Kms

Distance from Suchindram to Tenkasi is 135 Kms

Distance from Thiruvananthapuram to Tenkasi is 109 Kms

Distance from Kollam to Tenkasi is 105 Kms

Distance from Kanyakumari to Tenkasi is 138 Kms

Distance from Courtralam to Tenkasi is 6 Kms

Distance from Sivakasi to Tenkasi is 87 Kms

Distance from Kovilpatti to Tenkasi is 79 Kms

Distance from Kadayam to Tenkasi is 17 Kms

Distance from Ambasamudhram to Tenkasi is 34 Kms

Distance from Veeravanallur to Tenkasi is 43 Kms

Distance from Chennai to Tenkasi is 624 Kms

Nearest Railway Station is Tenkasi R.S.

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