Nava Kailayam (Kailasham)

9 Temples of Lord Shiva (in Tamil Nadu) on the banks of river Thamirabarani installed by sage Uromasa and as guided by sage Agastya. They are also Navagraha temples.

Puranic Event: Sage Uromasa was a prime disciple of sage Agastya. He had a desire to obtain the vision of Lord Shiva and attain liberation. He approached sage Agastya who was doing penance in the Pothigai Hills (the source of river Thamirabarani or Tamraparni or Porunai). Sage Agastya gave him nine flowers and told him to float them in the waters of river Thamirabarani. Then wherever the flowers reach the banks of the river, build a shrine of Lord Shiva and worship Him. Finally, take a bath in the sangam where river Thamirabarani joins the ocean. Sage Uromasa followed his guru's advice and installed nine shrines of Lord Shiva in nine places. Finally he bathed in the sangam and got the darshan of Lord Shiva. Sage Uromasa thus got liberated. Each of the nine temples is associated with a graha (planet) thus forming a group of Navagraha Temples.

1. Papanasam - Kailashanathar Temple {Suriyan} (Tirunelveli district, Tamil Nadu)

2. Cheranmahadevi - Ammainathar Temple {Chandran} (Tirunelveli district, Tamil Nadu)

3. Kodaganallur - Kailashanathar Temple {Sevvai} (Tirunelveli district, Tamil Nadu)

4. Kunnathur - Kothaiparameshwaran Temple {Rahu} (Tirunelveli district, Tamil Nadu)

5. Murappanadu - Kailashanathar Temple {Guru} (Thoothukudi district, Tamil Nadu)

6. Srivaikundam - Kailashanathar Temple {Shani} (Thoothukudi district, Tamil Nadu)

7. Thenthirupperai - Kailashanathar Temple {Budhan} (Thoothukudi district, Tamil Nadu)

8. Rajapathi - Kailashanathar Temple {Ketu} (Thoothukudi district, Tamil Nadu)

9. Senthapoomangalam - Kailashanathar Temple {Shukran} (Thoothukudi district, Tamil Nadu)