Murappanadu Kailasanathar Temple (Guru Sthalam)
Murappanadu Kailasanathar Temple is one of the Nava Kailasam Temples and is dedicated to Lord Shiva. It is located at Murappanadu near Tirunelveli – Tamil Nadu. This temple is associated with Guru (Jupiter or Brihaspati), among the Navagrahas.
The temple is believed to be built by Vallala Maharaja.This is the fifth among the nine Nava Kailasam temples. The shrine is also known as Nadu or Middle Kailasam Temple.
One unique feature of this temple, which is not present in any other Nava Kailash temple, is that Lord Shiva himself blesses devotees as Guru Bhagavan. The sacred river Tamirabarani flows from north to south here, similar to the Ganga in Kashi, giving this place the name “Dakshina Ganga”
(Southern Ganga). It is said that bathing in this river is equivalent to bathing in Kashi. Additionally, the temple houses the sacred Dasavatara Teerthakattam, a representation of the ten avatars of Lord Vishnu carved on a single stone.
The temple has four mandapams (halls), the first being the Pandal Mandapam with ten pillars, followed by the Oonjal Mandapam and Mani Mandapam.
An asura (demon), descended from Surapadman who was defeated by Lord Muruga, troubled the sages living in this area. Unable to bear the torment, the sages collectively appealed to Lord Shiva in Kailash. Moved by their plight, Lord Shiva blessed the sages. Since they formally petitioned Lord Shiva, the place came to be known as “Muraippadu Nadu” (the land of formal appeal), which later transformed into “Murappanadu.”
A Chola king once had a daughter born with a horse’s face, which caused him great concern. In his desperation to change his daughter’s appearance, the king visited several temples and worshipped Lord Shiva. Lord Shiva appeared before him and instructed him to go to Murappanadu and bathe in the sacred waters of the Tamirabarani River. Following Lord Shiva’s advice, the king and his daughter came to this place and bathed in the Dakshina Ganga Teertha. Miraculously, the daughter’s horse face disappeared, and she appeared with a beautiful human face. It is believed that Nandi, Lord Shiva’s bull, took on the horse face that had left the king’s daughter. As a result, the Nandi at this temple can be seen with a horse’s face. Overjoyed, the king is said to have built the temple in gratitude to Lord Shiva.
It is said that Guru Bhagavan, is all powerful at this temple. Hence, devotees at this temple, follow a unique ritual here. It is believed that if one worships the idol of Dakshinamoorthy and Shani Bhagavan here in this temple, by performing nine circumambulations, one can get the blessings of all the navagrahas.
