Kathra Sundareswarar Temple (Karthigai Star)
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📍 Kanjanagaram, Tamil Nadu
⭐ Featured Regional SignificanceSituated at Kanjanagaram near Mayiladuthurai on the northern bank of the Cauvery, this Chola-era Shiva temple is the parihara sthalam for the Karthigai (Krithika) nakshatra, revered as the birthplace of Lord Muruga's six sparks and Manakkanjara Nayanar.
Rudrabhishekam on Monday
The most powerful Vedic ritual to invoke Lord Shiva — dissolving negative karma, doshas & obstacles. Performed with sacred abhishekam & chants, it invites peace, health and prosperity into your life.
🛕 Performed at a revered 300‑year‑old Shiva temple near Tirupati by experienced Vedic priests.
🕒 Practical Information
🕉️ Spiritual Details
Lord Kathra Sundareswarar / Karthika Sundareswarar (Shiva)
Swayambumurthy (self-manifested Shivalinga), sanctum faces west
🕉️ Divine Snapshot
Lord Kathra Sundareswarar / Karthika Sundareswarar (Shiva)
Sri Kathra Sundareswarar Temple, Kanjanagaram Post - 609304, Tharangambadi Taluk, Via Keezhayur, Mayiladuthurai District, Tamil Nadu
Spiritual Highlights
Karthigai-born devotees are believed to attain a problem-free life by worshipping on their star days and lighting sand lamps during Pradosham. The temple is also sought out by those facing obstacles related to disease, marriage, childbirth, and adverse planetary effects.
The founding legend of six sparks emerging from Shiva's third eye to form Lord Muruga is the temple's central sacred story, tying the site to both the birth of Karthikeya and the Krithika nakshatra.
Karthigai-born devotees are advised to light sand lamps before the shrine during Pradosham and perform special poojas. Women of this star awaiting marriage are advised to perform abishekam to the Goddess using water fetched from holy rivers and to conduct Sumangali Pujas.
Devotees believe worship here removes obstacles related to disease, marriage, and childbirth, and mitigates adverse planetary effects for those born under Karthigai.
About Kathra Sundareswarar Temple (Karthigai Star)
Kathra Sundareswarar Temple stands in Kanjanagaram village, in Tharangambadi Taluk of Mayiladuthurai district, Tamil Nadu, on the northern bank of the river Cauvery, about 7-8 km from Mayiladuthurai town. The temple is believed to have been built in the 10th century CE by the Cholas. Lord Shiva graces the sanctum as a Swayambumurthy (self-manifested form), uniquely facing west, with an entrance arch bearing stucco images of Rishabharoodar flanked by Murugan and Vinayaga.
The presiding deity is called Kathra Sundareswarar (also rendered Karthika Sundareswarar), and the goddess is Thunga Bala Sthanambigai (also Tungabalasthanambikai), who is depicted holding a parrot called Vedamirt Keeram in one hand, said to be Shiva himself in parrot form chanting the Vedas, along with a Neelothpal flower, discus, and conch. Subsidiary deities recorded at the temple include Durga, Chandikeswarar, Brahma, Metha Dakshinamurti, Nardhana Vinayaka, Selva Vinayaka, Subramania, Nandi, and the Navagrahas.
The site holds double significance in Shaiva tradition: it is regarded as the birthplace of Manakkanjara Nayanar, one of the 63 Nayanmars venerated in Shaivism and described in Sekkizhar's 12th-century Periya Puranam, and it is also considered the birthplace of Lord Muruga (Kartikeya) himself, per the temple's founding legend. The sage Veda Vyasa and his son Suka Brahmarishi are believed to have worshipped the goddess here, with some accounts holding that Veda Vyasa attained Jeeva Samadhi at this site. The temple is maintained by the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department of the Tamil Nadu government.
Architecture & Heritage
Dravidian (Chola) (Chola Dynasty, believed built in the 10th century CE)
West-facing entrance arch with stucco images of Rishabharoodar flanked by Murugan and Vinayaga; sanctum dated to the 10th-century Chola period; goddess shrine featuring an iconographic parrot (Vedamirt Keeram) in her hand, echoing the parrot motif seen with Meenakshi at Madurai.
Rituals & Traditions
The presence of a parrot in the goddess's hand - believed to be Shiva himself chanting the Vedas - is a distinctive local iconographic tradition, paralleling the parrot associated with Goddess Meenakshi at Madurai.
Nearby Temples (39)
Within about 200 km driving distance from Kathra Sundareswarar Temple (Karthigai Star). Plan a yatra and cover as many of these as you can.
Nalladai Agneeswarar Temple (Bharani Star)
Nalladai, Tharangambadi Taluk, Tamil Nadu
Swetharanyeswarar Temple (Budha)
Thiruvenkadu, Tamil Nadu
Naganathaswamy Temple (Ketu)
Keezhaperumpallam, Tamil Nadu
Sri Kalyanasundareswarar Temple, Thirumanancheri
Thirumanancheri, Tamil Nadu
Kirubakubareswarar Temple (Hastham Star)
Komal, Tamil Nadu
Mahalakshmiswarar Temple (Anusam Star)
Thirunindriyur, Tamil Nadu
Agneeswarar Temple (Shukra)
Kanjanur, Tamil Nadu
Dharbaranyeswarar Temple (Shani)
Thirunallar, Tamil Nadu
Sooriyanar Temple (Surya)
Sooriyanar Kovil, Tamil Nadu
Vaitheeswaran Koil (Mangala)
Vaitheeswaran Kovil, Tamil Nadu
Frequently Asked Questions
🕉️ Divine Snapshot
Lord Kathra Sundareswarar / Karthika Sundareswarar (Shiva)
Thunga Bala Sthanambigai (consort), Durga, Chandikeswarar, Brahma, Metha Dakshinamurti, Nardhana Vinayaka, Selva Vinayaka, Subramania (Muruga), Nandi, Navagraha
Sri Kathra Sundareswarar Temple, Kanjanagaram Post - 609304, Tharangambadi Taluk, Via Keezhayur, Mayiladuthurai District, Tamil Nadu
How to Reach
Kanjanagaram lies about 500 metres from the Kanjanagaram bus stop, roughly 7-8 km from Mayiladuthurai on the Mayiladuthurai-Poompuhar route, and about 132 km from Trichy Airport, the nearest airport.
