In navakailaya’s this is the removing dhosams of raaghu in navagrahas.Kunnathur is also called as chenkaani.Kaani means land.Chenkaani meant by the land was in red soil.In ancient time kunnathur is called as keelvembunattu chenkaani alias Navaninarayana sathurvedhimangalam.From the information of this temple’s inscription this temple was built in 13th century. King veerapandian donated 4,200 value of money to this temple for daily poojas.There is a land scale in this temple. From the information of this temple inscriptions, this land scale was used to rectify the problems about lands.From the information of copper inscriptions who was preserved by the Nellaiappar temple, Tirunelveli, the temple was called by Thirunaangeesaneri and the god was called as Thirunaagessar (Similarly to Thirunaageswaram Raaghu sthalam). In the outer side of this temple Arumuganainar statue was formed in a single stone with thiruvachi.A serpant mark was found in the main god’s (lingam) chest.This temple was the best place for remedy to the devotees who was affected by raaghu dhosam.This temple is known as raaghu sthalam and also the 4th navakailayam.This is the best remedy place for the devotees for marital problems, infertility, kaaladhosam and nagadhosam. The worship of the lord of this temple is equivalent to worshiping the lord siva in Thirunaageswaram nearly kumbakonam. This temple was located at 11 kms in tirunelveli junction bus stand and railway junction.This temple located at kunnathur, keelathiruvengadanathapuram was in the route of Nellai town to Melathiruvengadanathapuram.Government buses are operated in the Tirunelveli junction bus stand and mini buses are operated in Nellai town to this temple.Lot of rooms and lodge facilities are available in Tirunelveli junction.
Once there was a king ruling this area, who had a very rare tree near his palace. The tree used to flower once only and yielded only one flower, which would turn in to a fruit which had the powers of giving eternal youth and strength to the person who consumed the fruit. The king used to take special care of safeguarding the tree as the fruit was meant to be consumed only by him. One day, a pregnant woman was carrying a pot of water from the river and passed by the tree. The ripe fruit fell into her pot, but she did not realize it. The next day, not finding the fruit, the king ordered a house-to-house search and located the pregnant woman.
Without inquiry, the king ordered the woman to be killed. Despite all her pleading, the king remained steadfast and so, the woman cursed that all the living beings in the village would perish except pregnant women, children and the cows. Soon, the village became deserted, and the lingam installed by Romaharshana also went unattended. However, the cows which used to graze in the forest started pouring their milk on the lingam. When the Pandya king was informed of this, he immediately ordered the area to be cleaned the area and built a proper temple for the Lord. This enabled the woman’s curse to be negated. (Gotha is Sanskrit for cow).