Famous Temples in India

Religious Significance

Kama Dhahanam (burning of Kama or Manmatha by Shiva). When Kama’s wife Rathi pleaded with the lord to save her Mangalya Bhagya, she was advised to pray in this temple. She did intense penance and the lord had granted her wishes with the condition that Manmathan would come back alive but would be visible only to her eyes. Hence this place came to be called Rathivarapuram or Kamarathi valli. The presence of another village adjoining this place, called Azhagiyamanavalam (Azhagiya-Handsome, Manavalan-Husband, referring to Manmathan here), further confirms this story. A beautiful idol of Rathi is also kept in this temple. Every year, the Manmathan festival is celebrated in this temple. People bring a castor plant, cut it into two and then plant. On the 8th day, the castor plant blossoms similar to the reincarnation of Manmathan. As per Sthala puranam, this temple and the lord come in the post Mahabharatha period when Parikshit was ruling. Once he was cursed by a meditating sage that he would die of snake bite in seven days. He had decided to spend his last days in listening to the Bhagavatha puranam of Lord Krishna and Sukha Rishi narrated all the leelas of the lord. As per the curse, one of the Astamanagas (eight great snakes), Karkodagan caused the death of the king. His son Janamejayan wanted to take revenge and conducted Sarpa Satra (or Sarpa Yagna) to kill all the snakes. Karkodagan sought the help of Vishnu who advised him to pray to Soundareswarar (Shiva) at Thirunallur to save him. Accordingly, Karkodagan did penance here and the lord granted him the pardon. As he was worshipped by the snake, the lord came to be called Karkodageswarar or Karkodeswarar.