Primary deity Kannangi | Elevation 1,337 m (4,386 ft) | |
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Proper name മംഗളാദേവി കണ്ണകി ക്ഷേത്രം Address Keelagudalur, Tamil Nadu 625525 Similar Periyar National Park, Mullaperiyar Dam, Thekkady, Elephant Junction Thekkady, Periyar | ||
Mangala Devi Kannagi temple is a historic temple located on the border of Tamil Nadu and Kerala, about 7 km from Pazhiyankudi in Theni district and 15 km from Thekkady in Idukki district. Cheran Chenguttuvan, the king of ancient Tamilakam, had erected the temple for Kannagi around 2000 years back at Vannathiparai and called it 'Kannagi Kottam' or 'Mangaladevi Kannagi temple' and performed regular pujas. It sits at an altitude of about 1,337 m (4,386 ft) above the mean sea level. It is surrounded by lush greenery and is closed throughout the year except during the Chitra Pournami festival. At other times tourists can still view it by getting a special letter from the forest ranger. The view from the temple premises is spectacular and one can see part of eastern ghats and some villages from adjacent state of Tamil Nadu.
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Legend
A distraught Kannagi is said to have burnt down Madurai after her husband Kovalan was wrongly accused of being a thief and killed. Kannagi after burning Madurai, to avenge the injustice done to her slain husband Kovalan, reached Suruli hills (Murugavel kundram). She stood under a vengai tree. Kannagi reached heaven in a 'Pushpaka vimana'. Chera senguttuvan camping on the banks of Periyar was informed of Kannagi’s story by Koola-vanigan Sattanar. The younger prince Ilango who had renounced the world, was fascinated by the characterization of Kannagi and he authored Silappadikaram, the king as directed by his consort, erected a temple for Kannagi. It is said that the stone for the idol was brought from the Himalayas. Gajabahu Lankan ruler attended the consecration of the temple. Mahavidwan R. Raghava Iyengar in his research monograph Vanjimanagar identifies the original Kannagi temple in the Chera capital Karur. The consecration by the Chera king Senguttuvan was attended by representatives of kings of India and Gajabahu of Sri Lanka. There is a relic called Vanjiamman temple in modern Karur. In Silappadikaram, Ilango describes Kannagi's departure from Madurai northwards along the banks of the Vaigai river and meets her "divine" husband Kovalan in the hills of Palani. Madalan, a character in the epic, narrates the history of Devanthi, friend of Kannagi and hails Kannagi as "Mangala Madanthai". The original place in Palani Hills is still revered as Mangala Madanthai Kottam. Later a Chera king Kulasekara (1699 AD) donated lands for a temple in Cumbum, Gudalur, near Theni (Madurai) (Ref. Madras Epigraphical Reports, 288, 1928-1929). This is the later Mangala Madanthai Kottam.