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Sri Soundara Pandeeswarar Temple or Sri Natarajar Temple, Karuvelankulam, Thirunelveli District, Tamil Nadu

Sri Soundara Pandeeswarar Temple is mostly called as Sri Natarajar Temple by the locals. The full name of the Temple is Sri Gomathi Ambal Samedha Sri Soundara Pandeeswarar Temple. The exact location of the Temple is Mela Karuvelankulam. Some refer Karuvelankulam as Karivalam Kulam. Karuvelankulam is located near Kalakkad in Nanguneri Taluk of Thirunelveli District. This Temple has an South facing golden colour Welcome Arch which looks impressive on seeing. The top of this Welcome Arch consists of a central Shiva Lingam flanked by two Elephants, Sri Ganapathy and Sri Murugan. Apart from this the two pillars of the Welcome Arch two South facing Dwara Baalaka Idols. This Temple does not have any Rajagopuram but instead there is a South facing entrance through which Devotees can come. At the outset the Temple has a paasage with two multi pillared corridors on either side. These pillars are beautifully carved with various designs. A coloured Image of a Shiva Lingam and Sri Natarajar are beautifully painted on the walls. Some places of this corridor seems to have the Temple Vaahanam. Devotees have to take a left turn and enter the Temple's frontal Mandapam where a North facing Idol of Sri Adhikaara Nandhi is seen. Beyond this is the Neivedhya Peedam or Bali Peedam and a Dwajasthambam or a Kodi Maram which is seen as though it is piercing the rooftop of the pillared Mandapam going skywards. There are two West facing Idols of Sri Suryan and Sri Chandran facing the Moolasthanam.

Devotees may have to climb 3 stpes to reach the level of the Temple Moolasthana Mandapam. Even these steps have been beautifully designed with Gajamugams. This place as few pillars which are so well designed by master craftsmen of those years who have taken great pains and have completed this work with deft hands. There are two huge black Dwara Baalaka Idols on either side of the doorsteps here and they seem to guard the Moolasthanam. At both the sides of the Dwara Baalakas are East facing Idols of Sri Ganapathy and Sri Murugan. On entering the Moolasthana Mandapam Devotees would be amazed to see Sri Anandha Natarajar along with Sri Sivagami Ambal. This Shrine of Sri Anandha Natarajar is South facing and Sri Anandha Natarajar is found without His Jadaamudi. He gains great prominence in this Temple and that is the reason why this Temple is mentioned as Sri Natarajar Temple instead of being called as Sri Soundara Pandeeswarar Temple which is the name of the Presiding Deity. The Idols of Sri Manikavasagar and Sri Karaikaal Ammaiyar are also seen in this Natarajar's South facing Shrine. They have earmarked a place which is close to the Idols of the Dwara Baalakas and this place is South facing and here too, two more Dwara Baalaka Idols are seen South facing. The earmarked South facing place is where Sri Anandha Natarajar's Idol would be kept during Arudhra Dharisanam to perform Abhishekam.

In the Moolasthanam the Presiding Deity Sri Soundara Pandeeswarar is seen East facing and in the form of a Shiva Lingam. He is said to be Omnipotent and giving His Devotees whatever they ask for. The sight of the Shiva Lingam is awe inspiring and would keep any number of Devotees assembled there spellbound for hours together. Facing the Presiding Deity is a Nandhi Vaahanam who is West facing. To the left of His Moolasthanam is a small East facing Idol of Sri Vinayagar. Around the Moolavar Koshtam are two South facing Sub Shrine of Sri Dhakshinamoorthy and Sri Chandikeshwarar. To the right of the Moolasthanam is an East facing Sub Shrine in which the Urchavamoorthy Idols of Sri Azhagiya Manavala Perumal along with His two Consorts are seen. This Perumal Temple is adjacent to the Temple of Sri Soundara Pandeeswarar but His Urchavamoorthy Idol is not kept in that Temple and is safely seen here due to security concerns of that Temple. The Consort of this Temple is known as Sri Gomathi Ambal. She has a multi pillared Shrine of Her own. In this Shrine Sri Gomathi Ambal is seen East facing and in a standing posture. To the left of Her Moolasthanam is a small Idol of Sri Vinayagar. Close to the Shrine of Sri Gomathi Ambal is a South facing Sub Shrine of Sri Chandikeshwari. The Ambal's Shrine also has a Palliayari. In an adjoining multi pillared Mandapam there is an East facing Sub Shrine in which the Urchavamoorthy Idols of Sri Soundara Pandeeswarar and His Consort Sri Gomathi Ambal is seen together. Facing this Sub Shrine are two West facing huge Idols of Sri Pathanjali and Sri Vyakarabathar.

The inner peripheral of the Temple has a North facing Sub Shrine in which the Naalvar Idols of Manickavasagar, Sundarar, Appar and Sammandhar are seen in a standing posture. The next Sub Shrine has an East facing Sri Bhoothathar who is seen in the form of a Neivedhya Peedam. Sri Juradevar is seen in His North facing Sub Shrine in a standing posture. The corridors of the Temple has an East facing Sub Shrine of Sri Kannimoola Ganapathy who is seen along with His Moonjur Vaahanam. Then is another East facing Sub Shrine is Sri Kasi Viswanathar is seen as a Shiva Lingam and facing Him is a small Nandhi Vaahanam. Beside Him is a small Vinayagar. A Chokkalingam Idol which is also in the form of an East facing Shiva Lingam is seen. The outer flank of the Temple has a Sub Shrine of Sri Gajalakshmi which is East facing. The outer flank has an East facing Sub Shrine of Sri Subramaniyar who is seen flanked by His Consorts Valli and Devasena. Outside His Sub Shrine is a small Naaga Devatha Idols. The next two Sub Shrines in the outer flank are those of Sri Saneeswar Bhagwan and Sri Bhairavar who are seen South facing and in standing postures. The space between the Moolavar's Shrine and the Ambal's Shrine has an East facing Sub Shrine of Sri Hariharaputhran who is none other than Ayyappan or Sastha. There is a small Puli or Tiger Vaahanam kept within His Sub Shrine. Close to the Sub Shrine of Sri Hariharaputhran the seven Idols of Sapthamathas are neatly seen as a single Idol and close to the Idol of this Sapthamathas is a Naaga Devatha Idol, a Shiva Lingam and a Neivedhya Peedam. The Temple has a Navagraha Sannadhi and it is to be mentioned here that all the Navagrahams are seen along with their respective Vaahanams. The Temple also has a Thirukalyana Mandapam for performing Divine Rituals. The Temple has a Madapalli or Temple Kitchen. Devotees are allowed to perform Marriages here which is allowed after scrutiny of all Requiste Documents. Devotees interested in Architecture could go through the ceiling of this Temple wherein two Fish Symbol is embossed which implies that this Temple had been built during the times of the Pandya Rules.

The Sthala Viruksham of the Temple is Vilva Maram and the Pushkarni is known as Kari Valam Vantha Kulam. Kari in Tamil means Elephant and it is due to this reason that they have arranges to keep several Elephant Idols all around the Pushkarani. This Temple has a Temple Chariot which is safely secured in an enclosure seen to the right of the South facing entrance. Vinayagar Chathurthi, Aippasi Annabishegam, Arudhra Dharisanam, Masi Magam, Pradhosham, Navarathri, Theipirai Ashtami, Maha Shivarathiri are some of the festivals are celebrated in a grand manner.

Contact Details: Narayanan Gurukkal 90032 85994, Ramesh 97918 36781, 99447 35288, 99437 58928 and 94864 83033

Temple Timing: 6.30 AM to 10 AM and 5 PM to 7 PM

Distance from Nanguneri to Karuvelankulam is 16 Kms

Distance from Kalakkad to Karuvelankulam is 3 Kms

Distance from Thirunelveli or Tirunelveli to Karuvelankulam is 44 Kms

Distance from Veeravanallur to Karuvelankulam is 25 Kms

Distance from Pattamadai to Karuvelankulam is 19 Kms

Distance from Valliyur to Karuvelankulam is 26 Kms

Distance from Munnirpallam to Karuvelankulam is 35 Kms

Distance from Nagerkoil or Nagercoil to Karuvelankulam is 64 Kms

Distance from Kanyakumari to Karuvelankulam is 65 Kms

Distance from Vijayapathi to Karuvelankulam is 57 Kms