Ketheeswaram Temple, Mannar – The Temple

Ketheeswaram Temple, Mannar – The Temple

The Present Temple is facing east with a five tier Rajagopuram with a mani mandapam in front. There is a big mandapam housing office, water tank, and shops. Majestic Dwajasthambam and Nandhi can be found facing the sanctum and it is big in size. Shrines of Ganapathi and Subramaniyar can be found at the entrance of the Rajagopuram. Adhikara Nandhi is located on left side of Rajagopuram.

Presiding Deity is called as Thiruketheeswarar. He is housed in the sanctum facing east. Mother is called as Gowri Ambal. She is housed in a separate shrine and is facing south. The Somaskandar of this Temple is the largest in the world and was made at Ketheeswaram itself. The Idol was made of pancha Logam of which nearly 112 grams of gold has been added.

There are shrines of Surya, Tirugnanasambandar, Kethu, Santhanasiriyars, Thirumaraikal, Sathur Vedhas, Urchava Idols of Naalvar, Sekkizhar Peruman, 63 Nayanmars, Sundarar, Vinayagar, Somaskandar, Vishnu, Mahalingam (Aadhi Moolavar), Subramanya, Saraba Moorthy, Nataraja, Bairavar, Saneeswarar and Chandran in the inner courtyard.

Deva Saba, Storage place and Yaga salai can also be found in the inner courtyard of the Temple. Navagrahas are located in the Nirutha Mandapam. The outer prakaram is with Ponnachi trees and Neem trees. The temple has 5 Chariots, of which presiding deity’s is of big. There is a tank named Pallavi, considered as more spiritual one by the Hindu devotees.

There are lot of madams on the east street some of them are Tirugnanasambandar Madam, Sundarar Madam, Nattukkottai Chettiars Madam, Amma Madam, Pasumadam, Poonagariyar Madam, on south street Swamy Madam, Sivarathrimadam, Nesavu Madam, Sirpikal Madam, on the west street Gurukula Madam and on North street Naavalar madam, Vishwakarma Madam, Thirukkuripu Thondar Madam and Annadhaana Mandapam.