About Us
Temple History
The Temple has been maintained and administered by the descendants of saivaite Thikam Chelliahpillai – a well known person for his elegant writing of Saiva Sithantham. Due to his services to saivisim, (MVTF) Thiruvavadurai had conferred him the tile Esanasivam. Long back, upon the request of G.G.Ponnambalam, he delivered a speech about the importance and tenets of saivism in the parliament. It was landed by many and culminated in the recognition of saivism in Sri Lanka. Sir Pon. Ramanathan too had been a good friend of S.Thikam Chelliahpillai. His efforts regained the status of descendants of saivaites of Thirumaraikadu, Vedaraniyam India, living at that time at Varani, Jaffna.
The Moorthangal
The moorthangal are considered to be special. There are three Shanmugars: Palayavar – the old main deity, the prevailing main deity, and the third one is called Arumuga Nasnar. Palayavar was sculptured by the sculptor Silpamunivar, one of the renowned sculptors of Chola Emperor Era which ruled the south India at that time. There was a specialty to this idol which was sculptured after the sculptor's hand was cut off by the King Mutaarasar. He held his chisel between the shoulder-hand joint during the sculpturing process. The other three idols sculptured by the same Silpamunivar has been available at Sikkal, Eddikudi, Emkan and South India.
Poojas
The Shanmugar was first brought to "Mullaithavan" and consecrated at "Kumarapuram" and then brought to "Kandavanam" and subsequently consecrated and maintained as main duty in temple. Approximately 100 years ago, while doing abhishekam to Shanmugar, a pot had fallen and tarnished the Varatha Hand on the left side of the Shanmugar. As a purification process, a new 'Shanmugar' of the same configuration had been brought from Kumbakonam, India and it has been maintained as the main deity. The Arumuga Nainar was moulded in the temple itself. People had voluntarily contributed even the Thirumangalyam to the metal mixture Iympon. This Idol has been extraordinarily beautiful and the largest of its kind. Kirubananda Variyar while seeing the Idol wondered and exhilarated on a visit to this temple.The poojas have been performed by the descendants of brahmins of Kumbakonam, India now living at Nayindal, Jaffna District.
The Temple Pond
It is called as Narundeerakeni and believed to be formed by Veeraragava Thevar by using his Thandam. It was believed to be producing 'Camphor' – coming from the middle of the pond. But it stopped once the Portugese people stepped into the temple. Hence the name for his temple Karpoora Kanthan. Sthala Virucham (temple tree) is a vanni tree. There have been three vanni trees of which two are said to be 2000 years old. Kandavanam Temple had been known for its special features of offering child birth to parents. The childless parent had to eat the mango fruit obtained from the mango tree available in the temple premises. This tree as seeding was said to be brought form Kanchipuram, India. Hence the name 'Kanchima'. The children born one of the blessings of shanmugar were named after Shanmugar synonyms like – 'Kandavanam', 'Kalyana velan', 'Kanchima Vadivel', 'Skandaraniyan' etc.
The Theer
The Theer of this temple is very big and equal in size of the "theer" of 'Mavidapuram" Kandasamy temple. Still this Theer is in running condition and the festival has been famous in this temple. Many sidhars, saints and pandits had worshiped and performed miracles in this temple. During the earlier period, temple had three car street around the temple, however during the Portugese rule it was reduced to two car streets – which are wide and beautiful and compared with "Thiruvarur, India Theer". The saying goes, 'Beautiful is Thiruvarur Theer, Beautiful is Kandavanam koil Street".
Festival
Annual Festival starts with June, Amavasaya and ends with full moon day with Theertha Festival. Kanda Sasti starts with raising the temple flag and the last day will be soorasamkaram. The very next day will be Thirukalyanam. This type of Kantha sasthi festival is very unique and this temple is known for it. After thirukalyanam the temple flag will be lowered.