Viruthagerreswarar Temple

Getting there

• By air

  Chennai, about 200 km away, is the nearest international airport. Pondicherry has an airport with charter flights, 25 km from Cuddalore town.

• By train

  Vridhachalam Junction links the Chennai to Madurai line with Salem, Cuddalore and Puducherry.

• By road

  National highways NH45 and NH45A, and state highways 32 and 36, run through Cuddalore district.

Why devotees come here

Viruthagerreswarar Temple is in Vridhachalam, a town in Cuddalore district, Tamil Nadu. Its legend says Shiva appeared here as a mountain while Brahma was creating the earth. The mountain was named Pazha malai, or old mountain.

Legend says Shiva appeared here as a mountain while Brahma was creating the earth. Brahma prayed to Shiva to create the earth. Shiva combined the flesh of slain demons with water, pressed the mixture into a hardened form, and called it medhini. The mountain of Shiva was named Pazha malai, or old mountain. Shiva also told Brahma that he was not different from the mountain.

The legend says the mountain would appear on earth as the Shiva linga. Those who worshipped the Shiva linga on this mountain would get all they wished for. The temple is also listed among the tourist attractions of Cuddalore district.

Stone inscriptions at the temple carry the names of kings, including Paraanthaga Chola and Kandarathitha Chola. The ancient name of the town was Thirumudhukundram.

Tips for your visit

• The temple and town names are spelled in several ways, such as Virudagreeswarar, Virudhagireeswarar and Vriddhachalam, so try each one when you search.
• The rail route from Chennai runs through Villupuram before it reaches Vridhachalam town.
• The temple stands in the centre of Vridhachalam town.

Questions people ask