Kasi Viswanathar Temple in Tenkasi, a city in Tenkasi
district in the South Indian state of Tamil
Nadu, is dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva. Constructed in the Tamilnadu style of architecture, the temple is believed to have been built by Pandyan ruler
Parakkirama Pandian during the 13th century, with later additions from Madurai
Nayaks. Shiva is worshipped as Kasi Viswanathar and his
consort Parvathi as Ulagamman.
History
Tenkasi was
established during the early 13th century . There are inscriptions in the temple dated
1384 from the period of Vira Pandiya mentioning the gift of houses and villages
to Brahmanas to recite Vedas and Purana in the temple.[3] Between 1428 and 1460, a Pandya king Parakkirama Pandian ruled the southern
part of Madurai region, comprising the modern day Tenkasi and it surroundings.
There was contrasting dates on the rule of Parakkirama Pandya, with some
mentioning the year as 1309, while the inscription in the temple indicating as
1309. Tenkasi was a part of Madurai region during the 16th century.
Madurai became independent from Vijayanagar
Empire in 1559 under the Nayaks and the temple started receiving gifts from
the rulers of the dynasty.[5] The temple had a flat tower till 1967, when
a 180-foot artistically built temple tower was initiated and completed in 1990.
Festival
The temple
follows Saivite tradition. The temple priests perform the pooja (rituals) during festivals and on a daily
basis. The temple rituals are performed four times a day: Kalasanthi at 8:30 a.m., Uchikalam at 11:30 a.m., Sayarakshai at 5:30 p.m., and Aravanai Pooja between 8:00 - 9:00 p.m. There are weekly,
monthly and fortnightly rituals performed in the temple. The temple is open
from 6am - 12 pm and 4-9:00 pm on all days except during festival days when it
is open the full day. There are various festivals celebrated in the temple. The
Masi Magam festival during the Tamil month of Masi (February - march) is the most prominent festival
celebrated in the temple. Tirukalyanam festival during Aipassi (October - November), Moola festival during Aavani (August - September), Navarathri, Karthikai festival, Thiruvathirai, Thaipoosam,
Sivarathri, Panguni Uthiram are the other festival celebrated in the temple.
Location
Temple situated
in the main Tenkasi City .Nearest Railway station is approximate 3 Km From
Temple.
There Two bust stand in Tenkasi old (for City Services) & New Bus Stand(for long services) .
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