Temple information :
Iththalavinayakar is known as Vallabha Ganapathi.
In the temple’s prakaram (outer corridor), Murugan is seen holding a bow in his hand. Alongside him, Valli and Deivanai are positioned facing each other. On the rocks where the Courtallam Falls cascade, multiple Shiva Lingams are carved. These carvings are based on the belief that Lord Shiva, who delights in abhishekam (ritual bathing), should always be under continuous abhishekam. It is believed that bathing in this holy water, considered to have been used in abhishekam for Lord Shiva, grants immense spiritual merit.
Inside the prakaram, opposite to the shrine of Sage Agastya, is the sanctum of his disciple, Sivalaya Munivar. In this shrine, the statue of Sivalaya Munivar is placed beneath the feet of Agastya, symbolizing the respect and reverence due to the guru.
Prayers
It is believed that those who lack clarity of mind or suffer from skin diseases will receive great benefits if they bathe in the Courtallam Falls and worship Lord Kutralanathar. People suffering from chronic headaches worship Shiva here and take home taila prasadam (holy oil). Applying this oil is believed to cure their headache issues.
Fulfillment of Vows
Devotees may fulfill their vows by performing abhishekam to the deities and offering garments to the Swami (Lord) and Ambal (Goddess).
Temple pride :
Five Entrances of the Temple
The temple has five entrances. Four represent the four Vedas, and the fifth is said to be the path through which Sage Pilavendhan came to witness Lord Shiva’s cosmic dance. The guardians (Dwarapalakas) at the entrance are depicted in a unique way — one asking, “Did Agastya come yesterday?” and the other replying, “No, he did not.”
Pancha Bhootha Lingams & Chitra Sabha
You can see the five elemental (Pancha Bhootha) lingams — water, earth, fire, air, and space — all together here. Near the temple is the Chitra Sabha, one of the five famous sabhas of Nataraja (the dancing Shiva), where he appears in a painted form instead of a statue.
Sacred Legends
Sage Agastya is believed to have left his fingerprint marks on the main Shiva lingam here. He once pressed down on Lord Vishnu’s head, which caused Shiva to get a headache. Because of this, oil is applied daily on the lingam’s head at 9:30 AM as a healing ritual.
This oil is made by boiling cow’s milk, tender coconut water, sandalwood, and 42 herbs for 90 days. It is then mixed with pure sesame oil and used as abhishekam oil (ritual anointing). Devotees receive this oil as prasadam (sacred offering). During night worship, a herbal decoction made from kadukkai, dry ginger, and pepper is offered to protect Shiva from the chills of the waterfall nearby. This decoction is called Kuduni Naivedyam.
Divine Feminine – Dharani Peetam
The goddess here is known as Kuzhalvaimozhi Nayaki, an aspect of Goddess Lakshmi who transformed into Parashakti. She appears on a Sri Chakra-shaped pedestal, called Dharani Peetam (Earth pedestal). This form is believed to represent nine goddesses, and special Navashakti Poojas are held on full moon nights.
Because this goddess is fierce, a Shiva Lingam named Kamakoteeswarar is placed opposite to her to balance the energy. Special worships are done here on full moons, Fridays, and during Navaratri with rose water and turmeric.
Manakola Nathar Shrine
In another shrine, Lord Shiva is seen in wedding attire as Manakola Nathar, alongside Goddess Parvati. Lord Vishnu, Brahma, Agastya, and Sage Bhringi are also present, witnessing the divine marriage. Those facing delays in marriage worship all seven deities with turmeric, rose water, garlands, and sweet offerings to seek blessings.
Nannagara Perumal
There is also a Vishnu shrine here, where he is called Nannagara Perumal — the one who grants the wishes of his devotees. Special pujas happen on Rohini star days and Saturdays in the Tamil month of Purattasi. It is believed that the same Vishnu once resided in the main Shiva shrine.
Jackfruit Tree Lingam – Kurumbala Nathar
Around the temple’s sacred jackfruit tree is a shrine where Kurumbala Nathar (a form of Shiva) is worshipped. The jackfruit seeds naturally appear in the shape of lingams, and no one picks them. Offerings made from jackfruit seeds are considered very special. An ancient jackfruit tree in the prakaram is also treated as Shiva and worshipped with light and offerings.
The Lost-and-Found Lingam
Arjuna once lost the sacred box (sampudam) he used for worship while in Kashi. He later found it here in this temple and established a lingam with it. Devotees who have lost valuables pray to this lingam for recovery. This lingam is located such that from there, you can see the Vinayaka shrine, Kutralanathar temple tower, Tirikooda Hills, and the waterfall.
Chitra Sabha Paintings
Chitra Sabha near the temple has many murals painted with herbal colors. The central painting shows Nataraja as Tripura Tandava Moorthy. Other paintings depict Shiva’s miracles in Madurai, Sage Agastya pressing down on Vishnu’s head, and forms of Dakshinamurthy. The Margazhi Thiruvadirai Festival is celebrated here with ten days of rituals and the special Thandava Deeparadhana, where lamps are waved in dance-like motion.
Name Meaning – Kutralam
“Kutram” means sin, and “Aalam” means to remove. So “Kutralam” means the place that removes sins. Worshiping here brings benefits in both this life and the next.
Temple History
During the wedding of Shiva and Parvati in Mount Kailash, the Earth’s balance shifted. Shiva sent Sage Agastya to the south to restore balance. Shiva told him to convert the Vishnu shrine at Kutralam into a Shiva shrine to witness the divine wedding from there.
When Agastya tried to enter the Vishnu temple, the gatekeepers stopped him. Saddened, he went to Ilanchikumarar Temple nearby, made a lingam in white sand, and prayed. Lord Murugan then advised him to disguise himself as a Vishnu devotee, enter the temple, and transform Vishnu into a Shiva lingam.
Agastya followed this advice. The features of Vishnu transformed: the conch turned into a deer, the tulsi became the moon, the tilak into Shiva’s third eye, and the gem into a snake. Agastya then pressed Vishnu’s head with his hand, and Vishnu became a shorter Shiva form. Thus, Agastya received a vision of the divine wedding.
Temple Shape
The temple is shaped like a conch shell, which represents the power of Mahalakshmi and is believed to bring energy through its sound. Even today, during all eight daily pujas, conch-blowing is part of the rituals.
Location :
The Kutralam temple is located just 5 kilometers from Tenkasi. It is easy to reach Kutralam from any part of Tamil Nadu. There are many buses available from Madurai (155 km) and Tirunelveli (60 km) to Kutralam.
Kutralam , Tenkasi , Tamilnadu.