276 Devara Paadal Petra Sthalam

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Visited on: Sunday, 18^th September, 2016

Location

Thiruvennainallur is situated at a distance of about 21 kms from Villupuram on the Villupuram to Thirukkovilur route. From Thirukkovilur it is about 20 kms and from Thirumundeecharam (Gramam) it is about 6 kms..

Other Devara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalams near this temple are – Thiruvamathur, Thiruthuraiyur, Thiruvathigai, Thirumundeecharam, T.Idaiyaru and Thirunavalur.

General Information

• This is one of the 276 Devara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalams and 14^th Shiva Sthalam in Nadu Naadu.
• Lord Shiva in this temple is a Swayambumurthi (self-manifested).
• The temple is also known as “Arul Thurai”.
• Sundaramurthy Nayanar was “Thaduthatkonda” Sthalam by Lord Shiva.
• The temple is associated with the attainment of sainthood by Sundaramoorthy Nayanar.
• Saint Sundarar sung his first Devaram song “Pitha Pirai Sudi Arulala” in this temple.
• There is a separate hall (mandapam) called “Vazhakku Theertha Mandapam” (the Court where justice is given) in the temple.
• In this temple, Lord Shiva gave darshan in his bull mount (Rishaba Vaganam) to Sundarar.
• This east facing temple’s main tower (Raja Gopuram) has 5-tiers and has two corridors.

History of the Temple

Thiruvennainallur is situated in the erstwhile Thirumunaippadi Nadu and is on the southern bank of river Pennai. This ancient temple is one of the very old temples in Tamil Nadu.

 Thiruvenainallur also has the reputation of having the great philanthropist, Sadayappa Vallal, a wealthy 12th-century small dynastic king. He was also the head of Puduvai (Pondicherry). He is a close friend and a patron of Kavi Chakravarthy Kambar, the Tamil poet who wrote Kamba Ramayanam.

Visited on: 23^rd September, 2018.

Location

Thevur is situated at a distance of about 12 kms from Thiruvarur on Thiruvarur to Valivalam route. From Nagapattinam it is about 12 kms on the Nagapattinam to Thiruthuraipoondi route. It is about 5 kms away from Keezvelur and is about 8 kms away from Sikkal. Nearest railway station is Keezhvelur which is about 4 kms away from this place.

Other Devara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalams near this place are –

 Keevalur, Sikkal, Nagapattinam, Thirumaraikkadu, Agathiyanpalli and Kodiyakkarai.

General Information

• This is one of the 276 Devara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalams and 85^th Shiva Sthalam on the Southern bank of the river Cauvery in Chozha Nadu (Thenkarai).
• Lord Shiva in this temple is a Swayambumurthi (self-manifested).
• This temple is counted as one of the Maadak Koils built by King Kochengat Cholan,one of the 63 Nayanmars.
• This east facing temple has two corridors and its main tower (Rajagopuram) has 3-tiers.
• The last consecration ceremony (Maha Kumbabishekam) took place on 06.09.1999.

History of the Temple

There are two stone inscriptions in this temple – one relates to the Sundara Pandiya Devan and the other Devaraya Maharayar of the Vijayanagara kingdom. The lord’s name is mentioned in the inscription as Sri Adhithecharamudiyar.

As devas worshiped the lord here, this place gets the name Thevur. The historical names of this place are Kathalivanam, Viradapuram, Arasangadu and Thevanur.

This temple is under the administrative control of the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department of Government of Tamil Nadu (HR&CE).

Visited on: 15^th September, 2018.

Location

Thirumarugal is situated at a distance of about 12 kms from Sannanallur on the Mayiladuthurai – Sannanallur - Nagore route. It is about 3 kms away from Thiruchengattankudi and 15 kms away from Nannilam.

Other Devara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalams near this place are –

Thiru Chengattangudi, Thiru Chathamangai, Thiru Pukalur, Pukalur Varthamaneecharam, Ramanatheecharam, Thiruppayatrur, Nannilam, Thiru Kondeecharam, Thiru Panayur and Thiru Virkudi. 

General Information

• This is one of the 276 Devara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalams and 80^th Shiva Sthalam on the Southern bank of the river Cauveri in Chozha Nadu (Thenkarai).
• Lord Shiva in this temple is a Swayambumurthi (self-manifested).
• This temple is counted as one of the Maadak Koils built by Chola King Kochenganan.
• This is the place where Saint Thirugnanasambanthar brought back to life of a dead boy due to snake bite.
• This east facing temple has two corridors and its main tower (Rajagopuram) has 5-tiers.
• The last consecration ceremony (Maha Kumbabishekam) took place on 27.03.2023 and prior to that on 30.06.2004, 11.09.1974 and 06.09.1962.

History of the Temple

This temple was originally built by a king called Kusakethu. Later Chola King Kochenganan rebuilt it in 7^th century as a Maadak koil.

There is a stone inscription which dates back to the period of Tanjore Maratha king.

This temple is under the administrative control of the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department of Government of Tamil Nadu (HR&CE).

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Visited on: 31^st August, 2018.

Location 

Mela Kadambur is situated at a distance of about 32 kms from Chidambaram on Chidambaram to Kattumannar Koil route (via Eyyalur). It is about 6 kms From Kattumannar Koil and 5 kms from both Thekkiruppa and Omampuliyur. 

Other Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalams near this pilgrimage site are - Thiru Omampuliyur, Thiru Kanattumullur (Kanattampuliyur), Thiru Naaraiyur, Thiru Erukkathampuliyur (Rajendrapatinam) and Thiru Kudalaiyatrur.

Another Shiva temple in Kezhak Kadambur, very close to this place is named “Kadambur Ilamkoil” or “Rudrapathi koil” which is a “Vaippu Sthalam”. This temple is a protected monument under the control of Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) owing to many beautiful sculptures adorning this temple.

General Information

• This is one of the 276 Devara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalams and 34^th Shiva Sthalam on the northern bank of the river Cauvery in Chozha Nadu (Vadakarai).
• Lord Shiva in this temple is a Swayambumurthi (self-manifested).
• The vimanam (roof tower) of sanctum sanctorum has been beautifully sculpted completely in granite, resembling a magnificent chariot.
• This east facing temple has two corridors and main tower (Rajagopuram) has 3-tiers.
• Though Nandhi and Balipeetam are present, there is no flag post (“Kodimaram”) present.

History of the Temple

This ancient village is named Kadambur and temple as Karakkoil.

The village is named after temple’s Sthala Viruksham - Kadamba tree. Also, Kadambar ruled this region thus, the name.

It is believed that current stone chariot form of temple was built by the Chola King Kulothungan-I in the year 1113 AD, prior to which, it was a brick structure. The Chettiyars of Devakottai renovated this temple in later years.

Tamil literary sources describe nine categories of temple structures dedicated to Lord Shiva. They are – “Perung koyil”, “Karak koyil”, “Gnazhar koyil”, “Kokudik koyil”, “Ilam koyil”, “Manik koyil”, “Alak koyil”, “Madak koyil” and “Thoongani koyil”.

Amongst them, this temple is a Karakkoil type where the Sanctum Sanctorum (“Garbagraham”) is in chariot like structure pulled by horses with an enchanting appearance. Karakkoil in Sanskrit is Vijayam – meaning victory.

This temple is under the administrative control of Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department of Government of Tamil Nadu (HR&CE).