Famous Temples Near Virudhachalam

Visited on:16^th December, 2016

Location

Neivanai is located at a distance of about 15 kms from Ulunthurpet on the Ulundurpet to Thiruvennainallur route via Adanur.

Ulunthurpet is about 45 kms from Villupuram on the Villupuram to Trichy bypass route. Also, Ulunthurpet is about 21 kms from Virudhachalam.

General Information

• This is one of the 276 Devara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalams and the 10^th Shiva Sthalam in Nadu Naadu.
• Lord Shiva in this temple is a Swayambumurthi (self-manifested).
• This temple has no main tower (Rajagopuram) and Dwajasthambam (flag post). It has a single corridor.

History of the Temple

This is one of the ancient temples of the erstwhile Thirumunaippadi Nadu. There are stone inscriptions in this temple dating back to the period of the Chola King Kulothungan-I. The lord’s name is inscribed as “Sri Porkudam Kodutharulia Nayanar” meaning “the lord who gifted a pot full of gold”.

Visited on: 10^th March, 2017

Location

Pennadam is at a distance of about 18 kms from Virudachalam on the Virudhachalam to Thittakudi route. It is about 15 kms from Thozhuthur, 23 kms from Srimushnam and 40 kms from Ulunthurpettai.

Another Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam near Pennadam is Thiru Nelvayil Arathurai which is about 5 kms from it.

General Information

• This is one of the 276 Devara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalams and 2^nd Shiva Sthalam in Nadu Naadu.
• Lord Shiva in this temple is a Swayambumurthi (self-manifested).
• This temple has two corridors and its main tower (Rajagopuram) has 5-tiers.
• The vimanam (roof tower) of the sanctum sanctorum has been constructed according to the Gaja Brishtam style of architecture.
• This is the birth place of Saint Kalikkamba Nayanar - one of the 63 Nayanmars and Saint Meikandar - the first of the four “Santhana Kuravars”. He is considered a pioneer of Saiva philosophy.
• Saint Marai Ganasambanthar, the third “Santhana Kuravars” is also believed to have lived here.
• The last consecration ceremony took place on 10.05.1989. Before that, the consecration ceremonies were held on 18.03.1981 and 13.07.1973.

Visited on: 10^th March, 2017

Location

Thiruvatathurai is situated at a distance of about 5 Kms from Pennadam on the Pennadam to Thittakudi route. From Thittakkudi it is at a distance of about 9 kms and from Virudhachalam it is about 25 Kms.

General Information

• This is one of the 276 Devara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalams and 1^st Shiva Sthalam in Nadu Naadu. 
• 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.
• Saint Thirugnanasambanthar was blessed with Muthu Pallaku, Muthu Kodai and Muthu Chinnam in this temple.
• Sage Vasishtar got the ‘’Raja Rishi’’ title here from Lord Shiva.
• Of the seven Thurai temples, this is the sixth one. Thurai temples are the temples that are situated on the bank of a river and are associated with the Sapta Rishis.
• This temple’s main tower (Rajagopuram) has 5-tiers and has two corridors.
• The last consecration ceremony (Maha Kumbabishekam) was held on 24.03.2011.