Gate detail: Lord Senthil Andavar creates Nazhikkinaru
Nazhikkinaru in the 1940's
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Gate detail: Lord Senthil Andavar creates Nazhikkinaru
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Nazhikkinaru in the 1940's
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The passageway to Nâzhik-kinaru and Mudi-kânikkai
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Nâzhik-kinaru today
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Almost imbedded in a rolling high sand dune, and about 200 yards to the south of the Shanmukha Vilasa on the sea beach lies the 19th in the series a remarkable spring known as 'Skanda-pushkarani' -- the Nâzhik-kinaru. It is a natural phenomenon. It is said to have sprung up as Shanmukha planted His lance the Vel on the spot. It is a well 14 feet square, and reached below on either of its sides by a flight of 34 steps.
The bath there is to be in two waters! One is a remarkable spring of fresh crystal water almost in a stone receptacle known as Nâzhik Kinaru. It is a foot square and about 7 feet deep and inset within the larger major well referred to. The latter is one of saltish and highly sulphurous smelling and muddy-looking water. This swells up during the day and pumped out daily so as not to allow it to over-flow into the smaller one.
Where from do these two distinct supplies of water with different tastes spring and how they are kept separate are a mystery and a problem for the physiographers to solve. A bath in the sea as well in these two waters is considered to be of much spiritual merit. The Nâzhik Kinaru swells up and maintains its level in spite of bailing out any quantity of water as the worshippers bathe out of it.
