Pataleeswarar Temple

Getting there

• By air

  The nearest airport is in Pondicherry, about 25 km from Cuddalore.

• By train

  Thirupathiripuliyur railway station (code TDPR) is 0.5 km from the temple.

Why devotees come here

Pataleeswarar Temple is a Shiva shrine in Thirupathiripuliyur, at the centre of Cuddalore town in Tamil Nadu. It is one of the 275 Paadal Petra Sthalams, the Shaiva shrines praised in the Tevaram hymns. Its Dravidian architecture dates from the Pallava and Medieval Chola periods.

Pataleeswarar Temple is one of the 275 Paadal Petra Sthalams, the Shaiva shrines praised in the Tevaram hymns. The 7th-century Saiva saints Appar and Tirugnanasambandar revered the temple in their Tevaram verses.

It is believed that Appar took up Saivism at this temple. A legend tells how Shiva saved Appar from drowning. Appar was tied to a stone column and thrown into the sea on the orders of the Pallava king Mahendra Varman, and Shiva of this temple saved him from the water. The legend links the temple to the start of Appar's life as a Saiva.

The temple was built during the Pallava and Medieval Chola periods, in the Dravidian style of architecture. It stands in Thirupathiripuliyur, at the centre of Cuddalore town. It is 20 km south of Pondicherry and on the way to Chidambaram. The temple is listed with the Tamil Nadu Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department, which publishes its pooja times.

Tips for your visit

• If you come from Pondicherry, the temple lies about 20 km to the south, on the road to Chidambaram.
• The listing is the only source for these hours, so check the HR&CE page before you set out.

Questions people ask