Brahmadesam - Hari's Carnatic

The village Brahmadesam is known for its ancient Kailasanathar temple, for God Kailasanathar and consort Brahmanayaki. It is located in Ambasamudram Taluk of Tirunelveli District in Tamuilnadu, India. It is a fertile village benefited by rivers Thamiraparani and Ghatna. This is also the birth place of Sri Sarvagna Atmendra Saraswathi Swamigal, the second Acharya of Sri Kanchi Kamakodi Peetam.

The temple Kailasanathar is an architectural marvel. There are five Siva lingams with separate Sanctum sanctorum for each, namely:

Nadikeswara, Nataraja (Punuku Sabhapathi), Athma Vyakya Dhakshinamoorthy with chin mudra facing His own self and Jwarahara Deva are a few examples of the sculptural treasures of this temple. The Arudra Mandapam and Somawara Mandapam are examples of Architectural excellence. The magnificent Dharma Nandhi is skillfully carved in a single stone .

The sixth Thirumurai of Tirunavukkarasar refers this temple as Ayneeswaram (C 71, V 8 ).

During the reign of Emperor Raja Raja Chola Brahmadesam, famed for its scholars in all the four Vedas was known as Chaturveda Mangalam or Brahmadhayam. The original deity in this temple Badhari Vaneswara was worshipped by Romasa Maharishi, the grand son of Lord Brahma, and so the village was named Brahmadesam. Till about till 1850 or so, this village was the Taluk Headquarters. In the Ghatana Nadhi Mahatmiam it is mentioned that the Swayambu Lingams of Sivasailam, Thiruvaleeswaram and Kailasanathar emerged in the same time and those who take bath in the River Ghatana and worship the above lingams get freed from the sins. There are separate sannidhis for Vigneswara, Subrahmanya, Dharma Sastha, Balamurugan, Surya, Chandra, Dhakshinamoorthy and Navukkarasar (Appar) & Sundarar. The huge wooden doors with intricate carvings at the main entrance and the wood sculptures inside the temple indicate the active participation of artisans from Kerala in the construction of this temple. Pradosha Sabhai with Pradosha Moorthy, Ashta Dik Balakas with their respective Vahanas, Siva Boothaganas and Apsaras women are very rare specimens of iconography. Chandikeswari goddess Saraswathi and Uchchishta Ganapathy are seen in the Prakaara of the goddess Brahannayaki’s shrine.

This temple was constructed during the reign of King Raja Raja Chola. Subsequent additions were made by Pandya and Hoysala Kings. The 7 storied Rajagopuram in front, the 5 storied Gopuram at the back and the compound wall were constructed by King Viswanatha Naick, who ruled from Tirunelveli.

Photographs Brahmadesam Kailasanathar temple Click the Thumbnails for enlarged view