Kailasanathar Temple

The Kailasanathar Temple is located in Brahmadesam and is dedicated to God Kailasanathar. During the reign of Emperor Raja Raja Chola, this village was gifted for Vedic Scholars for chanting Four Vedas and hence named as Chaturveda Mangalam or Brahmadhayam. The original deity in this temple Badhari Vaneswara was worshipped by Romasa Maharishi, the grandson of God Brahma, the Creator and so, the village was named Brahmadesam. This village was the Taluk Headquarters till 1850 or so. In the Ghatana Nadhi Mahatmiam it is mentioned that the Swayambu Lingams of Sivasailam, Thiruvaleeswaram and Kailasanathar emerged in the same time and those who take bath in the River Ghatana and worship the above Lingas get freed from the sins. Originally the temple was constructed during the reign of King Raja Raja Chola. Subsequent additions were constructed by Pandya Kings and Hoysala Kings. Big compound walls and front Rajagopuram of 7 stories and the back Gopuram of 5 stories were constructed by King Viswanatha Naick, who was ruling from Tirunelveli. In the sixth Thirumurai, this temple is mentioned as Ayneeswaram in the 8th Verse of 71st Chapter. This temple is the first of Navakailasha temples (according to Currala Mahatmiyam) in this district. Sri Nandikeswara, Sri Nataraja Nandi(Punuku Sabhapathi), Sri Athma Vyakya Dhakshinamoorthy, with the CHIN MUDRA facing his own self and Jwarahara Deva are certain examples of the iconographic treasures of the temple. The Pradosha Sabhai with Pradosha Moorthy, Ashta Dik Balakas with their respective Vahanas, Siva Boothaganas and Apsaras women belong to a very rare specimen of deities. Chandikeshwari, Saraswathi and Uchchishta Ganapathy are seen in the Prakara of goddess Brahannayaki's shrine. The Arudra Mandapam is an example of architectural excellence. The Dharma Nandhi is of a very big size, made of a single stone cvarved with magnificent skill. There are separate sannidhis for Vigneswara, Subrahmanya, Dharma Sastha, Balamurugan, Surya, Chandra, Dhakshinamoorthy, Navukkarasar, Appar and Sundarar. The big doors of the main entrance with wooden carvings and wood sculptures inside the temple are proving that artisans from Kerala were taking active role in the temple construction. Many more such intricate details can be seen when one pays a visit to the temple. The Somawara Mandapam is another masterpiece of the sculptors of that age. In the Sixth Thirumurai, the temple is mentioned as "Ayaneeswaram" in the 8th verse of the 71st chapter. This temple is the first of the Navakailasa temples in this district.