Sivagangai Temples
Kaleeswarar Temple
The holy temple Kalaiyarkoil is in Sivaganga District. It is 18 km east of Sivaganga, 30 km west of Devakottai on the Devakottai – Manamadurai Road and 66 km south – East of Madurai – Tondi Road. “kalaiyarkoil’ derived its name from the Kaleeswarar temple of the place. The temple of Kalaiyarkoil is a very large and handsome building surrounded by a strong stone-well about 18 feet in height. Kalaiyarkoil has two Rajagopuram viz big and small one. There is a big Tank on the Southern side of the Temple.
Kandadevi Temple
The Village Kandadevi is situated 3 km away from Devakottai Town. Here the Temple is called as Arulmigu Sowarana Moortheeswarar alias Siragilinathar. The Amman is called as Periyanayaki Amman. This is 350 years old Temple. The Temple is maintained by Sivaganga Devasthanam. It is here hanuman told to Rama “Kanden Deviyai”. Hence this place is called as Kandadevi. The Aani Urchavam is very famous festival for this temple, which is celebrated every year, during the month of June by the people of 75 Villages.
Kundrakudi Temple
Kundrakudi is 2 km from Pillayarpatti. This temple dedicated to Lord Muruga is also a rock-cut temple of the Pandya period. Built around the year 1000 in Lord Shanmuganathan is the presiding deity and the History is referred Mayuragiri Puranam. It is on a hill called Mayuragiri and the hill is shaped like a peacock. Lord Muruga the presiding deity with six faces and twelve hands is mounted on a peacock atop the hill which could be climbed over a flight of steps. The vibudhi (sacred ash) of this temple is believed to have curative powers. Marudhu Pandiyars Kings of Sivaganga renovated the Temple in their days. Important festivals include Thaipusam in January, Panguni Utharam in March, thirukarthikai in November, Kandha Shasti also in November Prayers in this temple bring relief from diseases and mental worries. The devotees are blessed with good Children. In another cave, the eight-armed dancing Nataraja is sheltered. Another attraction is the very rare image of Gaundaku Vishnu.
Lord Vetudayar kali Amman Temple
It is situated at Kollankudi about 15 km away from Sivagangai. It is maintained by Hind Religious Charity Endowment department.
Thirukostiyur Temple
This is important out of 108 Vaishnava temples. The Alwar Ramanujar has visited and prayed God Sri Vishnu. The God’s name is “Sowmiya Narayana Perumal”. The God is in five floors. This is also known as ‘South Thiruppathi’. Each year, ‘Masi Magam Deepam’ celebrated with pomp and enthusiasm here.
Thiruvenkadamudaiyan – Then Tirupathi
Dedicated to Lord Srinivasa Perumal, is a vast temple complex with a 100 year old history and referred to as “Then Tirupati” and “Arulmigu Ariyakkudi Thiruvenkadamudiyan temple”. This temple was build by Nattukkotai Nagarathars. After 100 years, this shrine was renovated by the cost of Rs. 10 million and Consecrated recently on 16th September 1999.
Sivan koil
There are two Siva Temples at this place. Sree Viswantha and Sree Subramanian temple, bigger of the two is an important temple. The Maruthu brothers (1783 – 1802) originally built the Thirugnana Subramaniyan Temple, Lakshmiammal, a poor Brahmin widow brought a lingam from kasi sometimes before 1852 and installed it in the temple. The decendents of Lakshmi Ammal handed over the temple to the Rajah of Sivaganga for maintenance. Since then the temple is known as Sree Viswanathan Sree Subramanya Temple. The another Siva temple is Sasivarneswarar temple situated near bus stand. There are other small temples viz. Perianayaki Amman Temple, Perumal Temple, Pillaivayal kali koli, kaliamman koil, Velayuthasami koil, Saneeswaran temple and Gowri Vinayaga koil. Sivanga is the birth place of poet Sudhananda barathy who is known to the world over a kaviyogi Maharishi.
Thenithangal
This ancient rock-cut shrine is also near Pillayarpatti. The presiding deity is Veera Narayana Perumal. Inside the sanctum, images of Garuda, Pradyumnam, Nila-devi, Usha-devi and Jambagavathi are beautiful sculptured.