Arulmigu Ammanathar Temple – Cheranmahadevi

Main Deity:
Ammanathar (also known as Ammaiappan)

Goddess/Consort:
Aavudai Nayaki (also known as Gomathi Amman)

Sacred Tree (Sthala Virutcham):
Jackfruit Tree

Theertham (Holy Water Source):
Tamiraparani River

Agama/Pooja:
Sivagama

Location:
Cheranmahadevi

District:
Tirunelveli

State:
Tamil Nadu

This temple is one of the Navakailayam shrines.
A unique aspect is that Nandi (Shiva’s mount) is positioned slightly away from the Kodimaram (flag post), allowing devotees to see both Nandi and Lord Shiva clearly from this spot.

Arulmigu Ammanathar Temple,
Cheranmahadevi – 627 414,
Tirunelveli District, Tamil Nadu.

The temple features a five-tiered Rajagopuram (main entrance tower).
Inside the outer corridor, there are unique sculptures of Nataraja carved from a single stone and Bhairavar without his traditional dog mount.
The temple does not have a Navagraha (nine planetary deities) shrine. Instead, Chandran (Moon God) is positioned on the right side of the temple entrance.
Other deities present include Maha Vishnu, Kasi Viswanathar, Visalakshi, Subramaniyar, Gajalakshmi, Shaneeswarar, and the Navakannikas (Nine Maiden Goddesses).

Rice traders traditionally offer rice as a vow to Lord Ammanathar, believing it brings prosperity to their business.

Devotees can perform abhishekam (sacred bathing) for the Lord and Goddess, followed by adorning them with new clothes as part of their prayer fulfillment.

Nandanar’s Darshan: The temple is located on the southern bank of the Tamiraparani River, where Lord Shiva is worshipped with a Chandra (Moon) aspect.
The Tamiraparani River flows close to the temple. Lord Shiva is known here as Ammanathar or Ammaiappan, while the Goddess is known as Gomathi Amman.
The temple’s design resembles the Meenakshi Amman Temple in Madurai, where Goddess Gomathi Amman is positioned to the right side of the main sanctum.
Nandanar’s Connection: The legendary devotee Nandanar is believed to have worshipped here. His sculpture can be seen on a pedestal near the flagpost. Since Nandanar had to worship Lord Shiva from outside, Nandi is slightly shifted away from the deity to allow clear darshan — a rare and special feature in this temple.

Rice traders frequently perform rice donations and annadhanam (food offerings) at this temple to seek prosperity.
Those facing marriage-related issues perform a special ritual where they:
- Bathe the Goddess’s idol with pomegranate juice
- Spread raw rice on a plate before the Goddess
- Break a coconut, pour ghee inside it, and light it as a lamp for divine blessings.

Sage Romasar, seeking Lord Shiva’s darshan, followed Sage Agastya’s advice and floated nine flowers down the Tamiraparani River. The second flower reached this location, where Sage Romasar performed a Lingam installation and worshipped Lord Shiva.
In later years, this Lingam remained unnoticed under a Peepal Tree.
Two devoted sisters, who lived nearby and sold rice for a living, worshipped this Lingam daily before beginning their trade.
Concerned that the Lingam remained exposed and without a temple, the sisters decided to build a shrine but lacked the funds.
They started saving from their daily earnings to construct the temple.
One day, Lord Shiva, disguised as a devotee, visited their home. He observed that their house was dimly lit and remarked:

“Just as a house without light lacks brightness, a house without auspiciousness lacks prosperity. I cannot eat in such a home.”

The sisters, panicked and unable to find their lamp, improvised by breaking a coconut, pouring ghee into it, and lighting it as a lamp.
Pleased with their devotion, Lord Shiva revealed his true form and blessed them with wealth. With this newfound prosperity, they successfully built the temple.

As one of the Navakailayam shrines, the temple’s special aspect is the shifted Nandi, which allows devotees to clearly see Lord Shiva from near the flag post — a distinctive and rare feature.