Sadaiudaiyar Shasta Temple

Site Name: Sadaiudaiyar Shasta Temple

Site Type: Hindu temple

Location:  Therku Pappankulam, near Kallidaikurichi, near Ambasamudram town, Tamil Nadu state, India

Highlights: A different temple amidst paddy fields; women are not allowed

Nearest Railway Station: Ambasamudram

Nearest Airport: Tirunelveli

How to reach: Poorly connected; local transportation is not dependable

Hotel: Few options within Ambasamudram and Kallidaikurichi; more options in the nearby city Tirunelveli

Restaurants: Only few options within Ambasamudram and Kallidaikurichi 



Kallidaikurichi is a picturesque village located adjacent to another picturesque town called Ambasamudram on the banks of the beautiful Tamraparni river and on the foothills of the Western Ghats. The nearest city is Tirunelveli. It is located in Tamil Nadu state in South India. Near Kallidaikurichi, in a small village called Therku Pappankulam, the temple of Sadaiudaiyar Shasta is located. It is situated in a picturesque location among paddy fields surrounded by hills.

Highlights:

• God - Sadaiudaiyar Shasta
•  Goddess – Porsadayachi aka Raja Rajeshwari
• Women and girls are not allowed to enter into the temple.
• Located among paddy fields surrounded by hills - a picturesque location 

Legend:

An interesting legend is associated with this temple. A Brahmin was passing through Pappankulam village along with his pregnant daughter. The girl got labour pain suddenly. The father founded a hut nearby where a Dalit woman played midwife and the girl delivered a baby boy. It is believed that Shasta took the form of the woman and helped the girl. The Brahmin thanked the God and offered raw rice and coconut which he was having with him at that time. Later, the girl gave birth to eight sons. All of them and their descendants became staunch devotees of Shasta and served him. They are being called as 'Ettu Pillai Koottaththaar" (Ettu pillai means eight sons). Even today, on a particular day every year, a special pooja is performed to the family members of this group in this temple.

Temple Layout:

The temple is situated amidst paddy fields surrounded by hills in a picturesque village named Therku Pappankulam near Ambasamudram. The temple is not built based on Agama Sastra. Hence, it does not have tower, bali peetha or flag staff.

The sanctum santorum enshrines four deities:

1. Raja Rajeswari under the five hood snake; she is also called as Porsadaiyachi
2. Sadaiudaiyar Shasta in the form of Bala jatadhaari - a rare form of find him in the standing posture and with beard; he is holding a stick
3. Durga Parameswari
4. Kali

The entrance of the sanctorum has an idol of Lord Ganesha.

Outside the main shrine, there are three sub-shrines for the following guardian deities:

1. Periya Madaswamy aka Veerabhadra holding sword
2. Nalla Madaswamy aka Bhairava who is found with a dog as his 'vaahana' (mount)
3. Chinna Madaswamy aka Agora Bhadra holding sickle

An important temple located in a unique pleasant location - don't miss it.

Happy travelling.

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