Kadiramangalam Vanadurga Temple

Kadiramangalam is situated on the bus route from Kumbakkonam to Mayavaram - between Kanjanur and Thirumananchery.

Vanadurga is one of the nine forms of Durga or Navadurga. The goddess has four hands - with conch and shell. The deity has the Abhaya Hastha posture with a left hand placed near the thigh - much like the posture commonly seen for Vishnu. The Durgai is seen standing on a lotus instead of the usual buffalo head. 

The temple was established by sage Agastya who then went off to Kasi. The sage felt sad that he was unable to perform Pooja for the Vanadurgai at Kadiramangalam. The Goddess then comforted the sage saying that She would come to Kasi daily after the temple closes in Kadiramangalam at 8 pm and accept worship in the form of Aghora Durgai (another form of Nava Durga or 9 Durgas) in Kasi.

In the temple, the idol of Vanadurga is the only one - without the usual accompanying idols of Pillayar, Murugar etc. The powers of Pillayar, Murugar and  Vishnu are vested in the deity Vanadurgai. Hence, those who don't know who their Kula Deivam ( Family Deity) or have forgotten over time who their Kula Deivam is, can offer their prayers to this deity instead. Thus, the Goddess is the protector of those families who don't know who their Kula Deivam is.