Sastha Temple Kizhacheval

The Kizhacheval Shastha Temple ( 8°40'42"N, 77°37'18"E ) is a small temple located admist paddy fields and banana groves, near the Kizhacheval agraharam, with Melacheval village to the south and Taamraparni river to the north. Melacheval lies 2km off the Tirunelveli - Cheranmahadevi road at Kalmadam point.

The exact date of the establishment of the temple is unknown. The Moola-devathai of the temple is the Bhoothathaan Peetham which, lies to the south of the Swami-sannidhi, and on the central axis of the temple compound. The chief deity in the temple is Maruthudayar Shastha, flanked by his two consorts, Purnambikai and Pushkalambikai. The upa-devatas are Ganapati, Sivan and Naagar. There are also prathishtas of Pechiamman, Brahmarakshas, Shankili Bhoothathaar and Kaaval deyvam, besides Vaahana-prathishtaas of Nandi, Gaja and Mooshika. The temple is east-facing.

The temple was in a dilapidated state for a very long period of time. The roof of the main sannidhi was in danger of collapsing, and in 1994 the old roof was replaced with an RCC one. The first Kumbhabhishekam after very many years was performed on 6th July 1994.

Panguni Uthram is regularly conducted at the temple every year. Of late, the number of devotees is increasing, as more and more people have realised the need and importance of worshiping their Kuladeivam. The devotees are settled all over India and abroad.

After conducting Deva-prasnam, and performaing parihara kriyas, the second Kumbhabhishekam was conducted on 20th June 2007 (5th day of Aani with Shukla-Shasthi and Makam star), with 2 days of preceeding rituals. This was attended by a large number of devotees.