Presiding deity: Poovananathar
Consort Devi: Shenbagavalli
Reigned by : Consort Shenbagavalli Devi
Idol height:  7 feet
Holy tree:  Kala tree
Holy water :  Agasthya thirtham
Place :  Kovilpatti
Other name:  Mangai Nagar
District: Tuticorin

Prayer motto, offerings, specialities, importance of the place, general information, festivals and history details are as follows:

Devotees coming to this temple carry with them benefit of healing of ailments and mental peace and family happiness and the abundant grace of Mother Shenbagavalli. They are also successful in their business ventures.

Devotees offer Abishek in milk, sandalwood and adore the deities with Sari and Dhoti. Annadhanam, as in other temples, is important here also.

As in Madurai, here too, the prominence goes to Devi, In the entrance are seen two powerful Dwara Balakis. While it is the practice in other temples to adore the Devi in the form she is installed, in this temple, the Goddess is adored in a sitting position.

Sri Rama offered his worship in this temple.

The name, Poovananathar was derived from the worship of two snake leaders Thungan and Padhuman. Goddess Shenbagavalli’s royal standing and promising posture adds more grace to the temple.

Kovilpatti is 96 kms far from Madurai and 59 kms from Tirunelveli and 60 kms from Tuticorin. Lodges are available for accommodation, the charges ranging from Rs. 100 to 300. As Kovilpatti lies on the Madurai-Tirunelvelihighway, conveyance facilities are available at reasonable intervals. Kovilpatti and Tirunelveliare the nearest railway station and the airports Madurai and Thiruvananthapuram.

For more details, aspirant visitors may contact the Executive Officer, Shenbagavalli-Poovananathar Temple, Kovilpatti on telephone No. 04632-2520248.

10 days Vaikasi festival during May-June, Adipooram or Bangle festival, 10 days, Navarathri festival, Thirukalyanam, Chithirai Theertham on Tamil New Year’s Day being special important festivals of the temple, regular Poornima, Amavasya, Pradosham, Tamil and English New Year’s days, Pongal, Deepavaliare observed in the temple. Devotees throng the temple on all special puja days.

History:

As the balance of equalibrium of the earth was greatly affected on the occasion of

the wedding of Lord Shiva with Parvathi due to gathering of heavy crowd of devotees in the Kaialash, Lord Shiva directed sage Agasthya to go the South and correct the land level equally. During his journey to the South sage Agasthya had to kill demons as Vadhabi and Vilvalan in the interest of mankind, he acquired the Bramahatti Dosha for murdering the demons which he washed off only in this temple town. He also created the Agasthya Thirtha here responding to the wishes of the sages of Ponmalai.

Also, one Vamanan belonging to a Siva group was born as the king of Vembakkottai due to the curse of Nandhi and had his curse relieved by the Pujas to Poovananathar. The temple was built by King Shenbagan whose name the Goddess Shenbagavalli bears. The temple was renovated in the year 1929.