Nakuleswaram

Nakuleswaram is in Keerimalai on the north coast of Ceylon. This place is famous for its Theerththamaadal. An ancient temple also is found here. The ancient name of this place is Thiruththapalai. The name of the Moorthy’s Thiruththampalesuvarar. It is said that a hermit came to this sport bathed at this water point and got rid of his face owing to this reason this place to the name “Keerimalai”

In Sanskrit this place is named as “Nagulakiri”. The God here is called and worshipped as Nagulesar – Naguleswarar Godness is in the name Nagulambikai temple is called Naguleswaram.

The above temple has been worshipped by Ancient Chola Kings, Muhunthan Nalan and Archchunan. This place is famous and special for the devotees to have holy bath.

Among the ten Saiva Puranas in Sanskrit Kanthapuranamis considered to be the best. In its Sootha Sankithai Naguleswaram is mentioned as one of the Ancient Pilgrimage Thalam also considered to be very holy form and found this history we can understand that Saivam too was popular in Eelam from ancient time.

When King Vijayan was the King here, he did maximum Thirupani service to this temple.

During ancient time the North coast of Eelam was full of hills continuously. After some time these hills were washed away by the strong sea waves and only the rest part that remined only is now known as Keerimalai, says researchers under the ground were found shells among the rocks and stoens.

Thus the great temple the hill part and the Sivan temple near this sport, were all dissolved by the sea, after which a new temple was built. This temple was worshipped by Nagular Munivar.

At present from the high land of Keerimalai the water flows allover , mix with the salt less rain water and this particular water has speciality as being considered as the Keerimalai” holy Theerththam. It is mentioned that this is the very Theerththam where Maruthappuraveekavali had her holy bath and thereby got rid of her Kunme disease.

When the Parankiyar entered Jaffna, Keerimalai Sivan temple too was one among the ruined and demolished buildings. But owing to the sincere and hard effors of Sreelasree Arumuganavalar, the temple was attended carefully, brought to a good condition and all Nithiya Naimithya rites were started now the temple festival takes place regularlty in the month of February for 12 days and the special Theerththotsavam on the auspicious day of Sivarathri festival.

This Keerimala Sivan temple has got the 3 necessary specialties as Moorthy, Thalam and Theerththam.

The following Puranas and books narrates about the ancient speciality of this temple. They are :- Thadchana Kailaya Puranam, Kailaya Malai, Nagulasala Puranam, Nagulamalaikkuravanchi, Nagulamaliachathakam, Nagulakiripuranam, Naguleswarar Vintha, Vicithrak Kavippoonkkoththu.

There is one Thirupukal sung on this temple. In this Thiruppukal this temple is praised as Arukkonamalai. The Thala Virudcham (tree) is Kal Aall.

In the areas surrounding this Theerththakarai Samathi there were found of holy devotees. Also there were inns too for the devotees. Some of them were, Kathiravelu Sirappar Madam , Tholpuram Kirishnapillai Madam etc.

Again the Sivanerikalakam which formed in 1976 did a great service is spreading all over the knowledge of Siththantha Saiva Neri, the best part it is that, it still exists, conducting all Saiva Maha Nadu Saiva debates Saiva lecturers etc.