Bhoothalingaswamy Temple at Boothapandi is a famous Lord Shiva temple located 7 km north east of Nagercoil in Kanyakumari District of Tamilnadu, India. The temple was built by the son of Boothapandiyan, King Pasum Pon Pandyan. Boothapandy village is located at the foot of the hill known as Thadakaimalai, on the banks of Pazhaiyar River. Thadakai Malai is regarded as the adobe of Tataka, the Yaksha princess-turned-demoness in the Hindu epic Ramayana. The presiding deity of the temple is known as Bhoothalingaswamy, locally known as Salian Kanda Thirumani.
Gods and Goddess Worshiped
Bhoothalinga Swamy Temple faces east; on the northern side of temple is a tank with a small Mandapa. It is believed that Lord Shiva was worshiped as Bhoothalingam by Panchabhutas at Bhoothapandi and hence the name. The shrine of Lord Vinayaka can be seen on the right side of entrance to the sanctum. The idol of Nandi is in front of the linga. The temple also has shrines of Lord Nataraja with Sivakami Ambal, Lord Suyra, Lord Subramanya with Valli and Deivanai, Lord Parashuram, Sandikeswarar, and Adi Shankaracharya. Kasi Viswanathar and Ulagayanayagi shrine is located outside the prakaram (outer courtyard).
Temple Festivals
The annual 10 days Boothapandi Car Festival is celebrated on the Tamil month of Thai (January – February) which attracts devotees and tourists alike. On the 9th day of the annual festival Therotam is conducted.
How to Reach
Nagercoil Junction Railway Station serves as the nearest railway station to reach Boothapandi. Trivandrum International Airport is the nearest airport.
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