This Temple can be reached by car or bus from Sirkazhi. Legend has it that Saint Sundaramurthy Nayanar (one of the composers of "Thevaram" along with Sambandar and Appar), while on his way to the Siva Shrine "Velladai Easun Temple" at Thirukkurugavur, a village about 4 miles east of Sirkazhi and 1 mile west of Edamanal, was overcome with extreme hunger and thirst when Easwara (Lord Siva) HIMSELF appeared in the guise of a Vedic Scholar and provided food (Kattamudu as referred to in Tamil) and water in front of the Kattamudu Vinayakar idol in the currently existing Kattamudu Vinayakar Temple built by the ancestral villagers.

Historically, Edamanal is identified as "Varisai Pathu", signifying the presence of 10 SivaLingams in a row (Varisai) in the woods. One of these massive Lingams (said to have been worshipped by Lord Rama and Sage Markandeya) was discovered by a venerable and elderly village visionary about 45 years ago and brought to the Kattamudu Vinayakar Temple site. Kanchi Maha Periaval gave his blessings and named the Presiding Deity as Sri Kasi Viswanathaswamy and the Deity of Ambal as Kasi Visalakshi Amman.

It is now the aspiration of the villagers to expand the Vinayakar Temple into a full fledged Siva Temple Complex. To translate this into reality a few descendants of the visionary under reference have formed a Trust by name Edamanal Sri Kasi Viswanathaswamy Temple Trust, which, with the help of funds raised to the tune of Rs. 43 Lakhs from family members and friends of the Trustees, has been constructing the temple since 2009.

The deities of the temple complex, laid out as per Agama rules for Temple constructions, comprise of Sannadhis for Lord Kasi Viswanathaswamy, Visalakshi Amman, Kannimoolai Ganapathy, Murugan, Valli & Devasena, GajaLakshmi, Saraswathi, Chandikeswarar, Anjaneyar, Ashta Bhuja Kali, Suryan, Bhairavar, Chandran, and Navagrahams. A qualified and competent Sthapathy is heading the construction work, which is expected to be completed by February 2012, and will be followed by final touches, cleanup, and painting by March/April 2012.

Kumbabishekam of the Edamanal Temple will take place on Thursday, May 31, 2012 from 9 AM to 10 AM (Nandana Varusham, Vaikasi Maasam 18th, Hastha Nakshathram, Kataka Lagnam, Siddha Yogam, Sukla Paksham, and Dasami Thithi). Yaga Sala Puja will start on May 28th. Sri Kalyanasundaram, a reputed Sivachariar from Kumbakonam, and his elite team of priests will perform the Kumbabishekam.

As per the estimates, Kumbabishekam expenses and contingencies add up to Rs. 10 Lakhs and a corpus of Rs. 10 Lakhs (The return from the corpus to be managed by the Trust would be utilised for temple maintenance and daily puja). The outstanding fund requirement is thus placed at Rs. 20 Lakhs (Approximately US $42,000).

Although the family members of the Trustees, friends, well-wishers, and villagers have graciously come forward with significant contributions, there is still a gap of Rs. 20 Lakhs. Such a massive effort needs the support and encouragement of kind hearted devotees from all walks of life by way of liberal contributions. Hence, we appeal to all of you to contribute your mite for the Kumbabishekam and uninterrupted functioning of the temple thereafter.

Please courier/mail the Demand Draft, Check, etc. to....

Brig. E.S.K. Murthy (Managing Trustee),

41/7, 13th Cross, HAL II Stage, Indira Nagar, Bangalore 560008

Tel: 080 - 2525 2229 / 080 - 2520 0156 / 93419 88512 (Cell); E-Mail: nalinesk@yahoo.com