Tiruttalinathar Temple

Getting there

• By air

  Madurai Airport is about 86.6 km from Karaikudi, and Tiruchirapalli International Airport is about 86.9 km from Karaikudi.

• By train

  Karaikudi Junction serves Karaikudi, which is 20 km from the temple.

• By road

  The temple sits between Madurai and Karaikudi, and can be reached by road from either place. Madurai is about 65 km away, Karaikudi 20 km and Sivagangai about 35 km.

Why devotees come here

Tiruttalinathar Temple is a Shiva temple in Thiruputhur, near Karaikudi in Tamil Nadu. It is one of the 275 Paadal Petra Sthalams and the sixth of the Tevara Stalams in the Pandya kingdom.

Legend says the snakes Vasuki and Kaarkotakan worshipped Shiva here. That is why a separate shrine for Tirunageswarar stands in the outer third courtyard, the prakaram. Another legend says Shiva revealed his Cosmic Dance, called Gowri Thandavam, to Mahalakshmi at this place. Shiva is also called Sreetalinathar.

The temple had royal patronage from the early Chola, Pandiya and Chera kings. Later Pallavas, Sethupathy Raja and Maruthu Pandiyar also supported it. Tamil Nadu Tourism calls the temple an architectural marvel spread over 15 acres of land, or 61,000 square metres. The complex has three prakarams, or courtyards.

The main vimanam, the tower over the sanctum, has stucco images on its east side. The shrine is raised and faces east. Inside the complex, the Yoga Bhairavar shrine faces west and holds metal images of Rama, Sita and Lakshmana.

Festivals

• First Friday of the Tamil month ChittiraiJayantan Festival

  Celebrated here alongside Navaratri and Kartikai Deepam.

Tips for your visit

• Look for the separate Tirunageswarar shrine in the outer third courtyard, the prakaram.
• The Yoga Bhairavar shrine faces west and holds metal images of Rama, Sita and Lakshmana.
• Search for Tiruppattur or Thiruppathur on a map, the other spellings of the town.

Questions people ask