6 Famous Temples To Visit In Tiruchirappalli

Visited on: 24^th August, 2018.

Location

Anbil Alandurai (Keezh Anbil) is located at a distance of about 30 kms from Trichy and 8 kms away from Lalgudi on the Trichy to Lalgudi route.

Other Devara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalams near this place are –

Thirumanthurai, Thirukkanur, Mela Thirukkattuppalli, Thiruppatrurai, Perumpuliyur, Thiru Mazhapadi, Thiru Pazhuvoor, Thiruvaiyaru, Thiru Neithanam, Kandiyur, Thiru Chotruthurai, Thiru Vedhikudi, Thiruppoonthuruthi, Thiruvaalampozhil, Thiruvanaikkaval, Trichy Malaikkottai, Karkudi, Mukkeecharam, Erumbiyur and Nedungalam.

General Information

• This is one of the 276 Devara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalams and 57^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). 
• This east facing temple has two corridors and its main tower (Rajagopuram) has 5-tiers.
• The last consecration ceremony (Maha Kumbabishekam) took place on 09.06.2004.

History of the Temple

Anbilanthurai is a combination of the name of this village “Anbil” and the name of this temple “Alanthurai”.

This place is located on the northern bank of the river Coleroon (Kollidam), a tributary of the river Cauvery.

There are some stone inscriptions in the temple which date back to the periods of Cholas and the Hoysalas.

It is believed that this temple was originally a Maada Kovil (a temple built on a raised platform). It was later rebuilt by the Chola King Parantakan-I without the elevated platform.

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

Visited on: 30^th September, 2017.

Location

Nedungalam is situated at a distance of about 4 kms from Thuvakkudi (near Thiruverumbur) on the Thiruchirappalli to Tanjure route. Thuuvakkudi is about 17 kms away from Thiruchirapalli and 42 kms away from Tanjure.

Other Devara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalams near this place are – Thiru Erumbiyur (Thiruverumbur), Mukkeecharam (Urayur) and Thiruchirapalli (Malaikkottai).

General Information

• This is one of the 276 Devara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalams and 8^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 Sthalam is considered to be as sacred as Kasi.
• Saint Thirugnanasambanthar’s pathigam of this temple is very famous and is known as “Idar Kalaiyum Pthigam” (which can be loosely translated as “the Pathigam that removes obstacles”).
• This east facing temple has two corridors and its main tower (Rajagopuram) has 5-tiers.
•  The last consecration ceremony (Maha Kumbabishekam) took place on 12.03.2014 and prior to that on 30.06.1999.

History of the Temple

Thiru Nedungalam in Tamil means vast plains. This place has been described as “Nedungala Maanagar” in Devaram. It means that it used to be a large city in the olden days. However, now it is a small village.

This place is also known as “Dakshina Kailash” (Southern Kailash).

There are certain stone inscriptions in this temple which date back to the periods of Chola kings Parakesari Varman, Rajarajan, Rajarajan-III, Kulothungan-III and Aditya Karikalan-II. A few other inscriptions date back to the periods of Pandiyas, Hoisala and Vijayanagaram kingdoms.

The lord here is praised by many names - Nedungalanatha Swamy, Nedungalathu Mahadevar, Nedungalathu Nayanar, Kalanthai Nayakar, Kayilayathu Mahadevar and Sundaramurthy.

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

Visited on: July 4, 2017 and November 29, 2017.

Location

Thirupparaithurai is situated at a distance of about 16 kms from Trichy on the Trichy to Karur (via Kulithalai) route.

There is a railway station in Thirupparaithurai on the Trichy – Erode railway line, which is about one km away from this temple.

Other Devara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalams near this place are – Thiruvatpokki (Iyarmalai), Kadambanthurai (Kulithalai), Mukkeecharam (Uraiyur) and Trichy Malaikkottai.

General Information

• This is one of the 276 Devara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalams and 3^rd 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 east facing temple has two corridors and its main tower (Rajagopuram) has 7-tiers.
• The last consecration ceremony (Maha Kumbabishekam) took place in the year 2013 and prior to that in 1998.

History of the Temple

In ancient times, this region is believed to have been densely covered with “Parai” trees. The Shivalingam of this temple was found among the Parai trees and this temple was later built around it. This temple’s “sthala viruksham” is also the Parai tree. Generally, the names of temples that are located on river banks end with “Thurai”. Following this tradition, as this temple is situated on the banks of the river Kaveri, it gets the name Paraithurai.

In Sanskrit, Parai tree is known as “Dharuka Viruksham”. Hence, the historical name of this place is Dharukavanam.

There are 83 stone inscriptions in this temple which date back to the periods of Paranthaka Chola-I, Rajakesari Varman, Sundarapandiyan and Krishnadeva Maharayar.

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

Visited on: 4^th July, 2017

Location

Thiruppaigneeli is situated at a distance of about 20 kms from Trichy.

From Trichy, first reach Mannachanallur (11kms) and then proceed to Thiruppaigneeli (8 kms). Nearest railway station is Pitchandar Koil.

Other Devara Paadal Petra Shiv Sthalams near this place are – Thiruchirappalli (Tiruchy Malaikkottai), Thiruvanaikkaval, Thiruvasi, Anbilanthurai, Thirumanthurai, Thiruppatrurai, Mukkeecharam (Uraiyur), Thirupparaithurai, and Thiruverumbur.

General Information

• This is one of the 276 Devara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalams and 61^st Shiva Sthalam on the northern bank of the river Cauvery in Chozha Nadu (Vadakarai). 
• Lord Shiva in this temple is a Swayambumurthi (self-manifested).
• This is one of the 44 Paadal Petra Sthalams where the “Moovar” (the three saints - Saint Thirugnanasambanthar, Saint Thirunavukarasar (Appar) and Saint Sundaramurthy (Sundarar) had rendered their Pathigams.
• Thiruppainjeeli is referred to as “South Kailash”.
• The uniqueness of this temple is that there is a shrine for Lord Yama (Lord of death).
• This is one of the “Saptha Sthana” temples of Thiruvanaikkaval.
• This is one of the famous “parikara sthalams” for conducting poojas to remove obstacles from marriage proposals and to seek child boon.
• This east facing temple’s main tower (Rajagopuram) is incomplete and its second tower has 3 tiers. This temple has four corridors.
• The last consecration ceremony (Mahakumbabishekam) took place on 02.02.2017 and prior to that on 06.02.2003.

History of the Temple

This ancient temple is situated on the northern bank of the river Kollidam. This temple complex is spread over sprawling 12 acres of land. 

The temple’s main tower is believed to have been built by King Konerinmai Kondaan and it is only constructed up to the first tier.

Visited on: January 10, 2016 and December 2, 2016.

Location

Thiruvanaikkaval is a part of Trichy (also known as Thiruchirappalli) and is situated at a distance of about 8 kms from the Trichy bus stand. It is 3 kms away from Srirangam and is between the Kollidam and Cauvery rivers.

Other Devara Paadal Petra Sthalam near this place are – Thiruvasi, Thiruchirappalli (Tiruchy Malaikkottai), Anbilanthurai, Thirumanthurai, Thiruppatrurai, Thiruppainjeeli, Thirupparaithurai, Mukkeecharam (Uraiyur) and Thiruverumbur.

General Information

• This is one of the 276 Devara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalams and 60^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).
• In this temple, Lord Jambukeswarar is facing west and Goddess Akilandeswari is facing the east.
• This is one of the “Pancha Bootha Sthalams” and it represents Water (Appu).
• This is also one of the Sakthi Peetams.
• This is the first of the 70 Madakkovils built by King Kochengat Cholan.
• All the three saints (Moovar) have rendered hymns on Lord Shiva of this temple. 
• The east facing main tower (Rajagopuram) has 13-tiers and the west facing Rajagopuram has 7-tiers. This temple has 7 main towers and 5 corridors.

History of the Temple

This is an ancient, sprawling and magnificent temple which highlights the architectural splendour of the past. The temple complex is a whopping 18 acres of land. In ancient times, this place was densely populated with white Naaval trees.

The temple was built about 2,500 years ago by the Emperor Kochengat Chola. 

It is believed that an elephant and a spider have worshiped the lord here and obtained salvation. The name of this temple is derived from this legend. “Thiru” is a respectful prefix, “Anai” means elephant and “koil” means temple in Tamil. Now it is known as “Thiruvanaikkaval”.

Visited on: January 10, 2016 and December 2, 2016

Location

Thiruvasi is located at a distance of about 13 kms from Trichy on the Trichy-Salem route via Ayyanpalayam. Nearest railway station is Uttamarkoil which is 5 kms away from this place.

Other Devara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalams near this place are – Thiruvanaikkaval, Thiruchirappalli (Tiruchy Malaikkottai), Anbilanthurai, Thirumanthurai, Thiruppatrurai, Thiruppainjeeli, Mukkeecharam (Uraiyur) and Thiruverumbur.

General Information

• This is one of the 276 Devara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalams and 62^nd Shiva Sthalam on the northern bank of the river Cauvery in Chozha Nadu (Vadakarai).
• Lord Shiva in this temple is a Swayambumurthi (self-manifested).
• Saint Sambanthar sang a hymn and cured a girl from Muyalagan disease. 
• Lord Shiva gave a purse containing gold to Saint Sundarar here.
• This east facing temple has a 5-tiered main tower (Rajagopuram) and it has two corridors. 
• The last consecration ceremony (Kumbabishekam) took place on 14.06.2017.

History of the Temple

It is believed that this temple is 1500 years old and was built and renovated by Kings of the Hoysala, Chola and Pandiya dynasties. This temple is situated on the northern bank of the river Kollidam (Coleroon).

The historical name of this place is “Pachil Kutrathu Achiramam” which has been changed to Pachilachiramam. 

As per the stone inscriptions, during the Chola and Pandiya period, the places on the northern bank of the river Kollidam was called “Parchil Kutram”. The village around it was called Thiruvachiramam. This was later changed to Thiruvasi. 

Also, in ancient times this place was densely populated with Vanni trees. For this reason, this place is also known as Sameevanam and the lord here is praised as Sri Sameevaneswarar.

As Lord Brahma is believed to have worshiped the lord here, the lord is also known as “Sri Brahmapureswarar”.