Tamil Nadu, the southernmost state of India and the Union Territory of Pondicherry are home to Tamil Culture and Civilization that is several centuries old. The many dynasties that have ruled here have left behind a wealth of art and architecture. The numerous temples here are the main repositories of this cultural and spiritual wealth. This blog will strive to help the reader explore these temples including the lesser known temples which are true hidden gems.
ABOUT THIS BLOG
Welcome to this blog about the Temples of Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry. These blog posts will highlight and give brief descriptions of various temples and also focus on related subjects. We invite you to explore the content and learn about these wonderful places.
Blog Navigation
This blog site is easy to navigate. This section will explain navigation of the various pages for users with basic technical knowledge about blog sites in general.
This blog site has a number of pages. The landing page (the page that you will see when you click on a link that you see on a social media platform or email) is often the Home Page. All the pages are listed as links on the top of every page. Click on them and it will take you that page.
The following is a list and descriptions of the pages.
1.Home - This is the Home Page and is home to blog posts that are posted here periodically about once a week or every two weeks. Most of the posts are about specific temples but sometimes a general topic is addressed.
2.About - This page is a general introduction to the blog and the subject. It has sections about blog navigation, tips on using the blog and a list of temples featured in the blog posts in alphabetical order.
3.Information - Here the reader will find various articles about the temples of Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry. They cover the history, architectural aspects and other related topics.
4.Guide - This page consists of sections with useful information that will guide readers who are planning a trip to visit these temples.
5.Resources - This page contains useful links to external websites and blogs about Temples of Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry and a list of books. The list of resources under websites and blogs are clickable links that will take the reader to these external sites.
6.Members - This is a forum for discussion that is available for those readers who register as members and have to login to participate.
7. FAQs - Here you will find answers to commonly asked questions about the temples of Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry
8. Glossary - This page will list terms used in this blog and their explanations in alphabetical order. It will facilitate the reader to quickly look up the meaning and context of these terms.
9. Legal - This page ia about the rules including copyright and permissions.
HOW TO USE THIS BLOG
This blog will try to introduce the reader to the temples of Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry in India. Some of our blog posts will periodically highlight temples we have visited in this land which is steeped in history and legend. Other posts will deal with history, architecture, art and mythology that will help interpret these places, empower the reader and enhance their experience. The goal is to encourage the reader to go visit these places which we feel are hidden treasures of the collective global heritage and culture.
Our posts about specific temples or places will introduce the reader to the temple or site with some information and photos to stimulate their interest. They are not meant to be comprehensive. When appropriate we will point you to more detailed sources.
Other posts about related subjects will set the background to interpret these places in a meaningful way. Knowing about the culture, history and other background information will enrich the experience.
Some other posts will offer travel tips such as itineraries and accommodation. We will suggest itineraries or help the reader come up with their own itineraries based on interests and time limitations. We will offer tips to make the trip comfortable and doable as some of the places might be remote. Our style of travel is based on comfort and safety. We usually prefer to pay extra for this.
Tamil Nadu has several thousands of temples dating back to a couple of millennia. Some of the existing architecture is about 1500 years old. No one in their lifetime can see them all. The more famous or well known temples are easy to find. But it is rewarding to search for and visit the lesser known temples which are quite unique.
Below is an alphabetical index of the temples we have visited and the related blogs, as well as a chronological index of all blog posts linked to the posts, for readers to rapidly navigate to a particular temple. Periodically we will cover a general topic related to the temples such as architecture, art, history etc. These articles can be found in the page titled Information. The page titled Guide will provide useful tips and guidance for those who are planning to visit these temples. In this page we have also added a section which groups the temples we have visited according to the closest town or region. We have also included a page titled Resources which introduces the reader to external websites and other related blogs.
Index of Temple Blogs Alphabetical Order
A
B
Brahmadesam Kailasanathar
C
D
E
G
I
J
K
M
N
O
P
R
S
T
Thirukkoilur Ulagalanthaperumal
U
Ulagalanthaperumal Thirukkoilur
V
Index of Posts - Chronological Order
1. Temples of Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry - An Approach
2. #1: Mangalanathaswamy Temple, Uthirakosamangai
3. #2: Adhi Jagannatha Perumal Temple, Thirupullani
4. #3: Ramanathaswamy Temple - Rameswaram
5. #4: Thirumeninathar or Bhoominathar Temple, Thiruchuli
6. #5: Vaikunthanathar or Kallapiran Temple, Srivaikuntham
7. #6: Kailasanathar Temple Srivaikuntham
8. #7: Thiruchendur Murugan Temple
9. #8: Thanumalayan Temple, Suchindram
10. #9: Nagaraja Temple, Nagercoil
11. #10: Chitharal Jain Temple
12. #11: Nellaiappar Temple, Thirunelvely
13. #12: Bhakthavathsala Perumal Temple - Cheranmahadevi
14. Temples of Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry : Architecture - An Overview
15. #13: Ammainathar Temple - Cheranmahadevi
16. #14: Brahmadesam Kailasanathar Temple - Ambasamudram
17. #15: Papanasanathar Temple - Papanasam
18. #16: Valisvarar Temple - Thiruvaleesvaram, Thirunelveli
19. #17: Kasi Visvanathar Temple - Thenkasi
20. #18: Kutralanathar Temple Thirukutralam
21. #19: Kalugumalai - Monolithic Temple and Jain Monument
22. #20: Srivilliputhur Aandaal Temple
23. #21: Thirupushpavanesvarar Temple Thirupuvanam
24. #22: Bhagavathy Amman Temple Kanyakumari
25. #23: Thiruparankundram Temple Madurai
26. #24: Koodalalagar or Koodal Azhagar Temple Madurai
27. Temples of Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry: A Brief History
28. #25: Thiruvappanur or Aappudayar Temple Madurai
29. #26: Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple Madurai
30. #27: Edaganathar Temple -Thiruvedagam
31. #28: Kallazhagar or Kallalagar Temple, Alagar Koil
32. #29: Pazhamuthircholai or Palamuthircholai Murugan Temple
33. #30: Brihadishvarar or Peruvudayar Temple or the Big Temple, Thanjavur
34. #31: Brihadishvarar Temple, Gangaikonda Cholapuram
35. #32: Airavatesvarar Temple Darasuram
36. #33: Adhi Kumbeswarar Temple, Kumbakonam
37. #34: Jambukeswarar Temple, Thiruvanaikaval
38. #35: Natarajar Temple, Chidambaram
39. #36: Annamalaiyar Temple, Thiruvannamalai
40. Salient Features - Iconography, Iconology and Architecture
41. #37: Kailasanathar Temple, Kanchipuram
42. #38: Shore Temple, Mahabalipuram or Mamallapuram
43. #39: Pancha Rathas, Mahabalipuram
44. #40: Athiranachanda Cave Temple, Saluvankuppam
45. #41: Kamakshi Amman Temple, Kanchipuram
46. #42: Ekambareswarar or Ekambaranathar Temple, Kanchipuram
47. #43: Thirukalukundram Temple, Chengalpattu
48. #44: Kapaleeswarar Temple, Mylapore, Chennai
49. #45: Thiruvalleeswarar Temple, Thiruvalidhayam, Padi, Chennai
50. #46: Adhipureeswarar or Thyagarajaswamy Temple, Thiruvottriyur, Chennai
51. #47: Dharmeswarar Temple, Manimangalam
52. #48: Dhenupureeswarar Temple, Maadambakkam, Chennai
53. An Introduction to Sacred Idols
54. #49: Gnanapureeswarar or Idaichuranathar Temple, Thiruvadisoolam
55. #50: Munkudumeeswarar Temple, Ponvilainthakalathur
56. #51: Vaseeswarar or Vacheeswarar Temple, Thirupaasur or Thirupachur
57. #52: Agastheewarar Temple, Pozhichalur, Chennai
58. #53: Subramanya Swami Temple, Thiruthani
59. #54: Jalanatheeswarar Temple, Thakkolam
60. #55: Vadaranyeswarar Temple, Thiruvalankadu
61. #56: Vedapureeswarar Temple, Thiruvothur, Cheyyar
62. #57: Vedapureeswarar Temple, Pondicherry
63. #58: Thaalagireeshwarar Temple, Panamalai
64. #59: Varadharaja Perumal Temple, Pondicherry
65. #60: Veerattaneswarar Temple, Thiruvathigai
67. #61: Manakula Vinayagar Temple, Pondicherry
68. #62: Panangaateeswarar Temple, Panayapuram
69. #63: Chandramouleeswarar Temple or Vakrakaliamman Temple, Thiruvakkarai
70. #64: Arasaleeswarar Temple, Thiru Arasili, Ozhinthiapattu
71. #65: Mahakaleshwarar Temple, Irumbai Maakaalam
72. #66: Ulagalantha Perumal Temple or Trivikrama Perumal Temple, Thirukoilur
73. #67: Veeratteswarar Temple, Thirukkovilur or Thirukoilur
74. #68: Kripapureeswarar or Arutkondanathar Temple, Thiruvennainallur
75. #69: Vamanapureeswarar Temple, Thirumanikuzhi
76. #70: Pasupatheeswarar Temple and Thirunavukkarasar Madam, Thiruvamur or Thiruvamoor
77. #71: Agastheeswarar Temple, Kiliyanur
78. #72: Padaleswarar Temple, Thirupathiripuliyur
79. Protection, Preservation, Renovation and Reconstruction
80. #73: Mulanathaswamy Temple, Bahour, Pondicherry
81. #74: Thodatri Perumal Temple or Varadharaja Perumal Temple, Thirubhuvanai
82. #75: Panchanatheeswarar or Vadugurnathar Temple, Thiruvandarkoil
83. #76: Thirukundankudi Mahadeva Temple, Madagadipattu
84. #77: Marundeeswarar Temple, Thiruvanmiyur, Chennai
85. #78: Saluvankuppam Murugan Temple
86. #79: Sivanandeeswarar Temple, Thirukandalam
87. #80: Maasilamaniswarar Temple, Thirumullaivayil, Thiruvallur
88. #81: Vedapureeswarar Temple, Thiruverkadu
89. #82: Parthasarathy Perumal Temple, Triplicane, Chennai
90. #83: Devi Karumariamman Temple, Thiruverkadu
91. #84: Kachabeswarar Temple, Thirukachur
92. Ownership, Control and Administration
93. #85: Marundeeswarar Temple, Thirukachur
95. Temple Group #1 Pancha Bhootha Sthalangal
96. Temple Group #2 Pancha Sabhai Sthalangal
97. Temple Group #3 The Great Living Chola Temples
98. Temple Group #4 The Aaru Padai Veedugal - The Six Abodes of Lord Murugan
99. #86: Muktheeswarar Temple, Theppakulam, Madurai
100. #87: Soundararajaperumal Temple, Thadikombu, Dindigul
101. #88: Kalamegaperumal Temple, Thirumohur
102. #89: Thirumarainathar Temple, Thiruvathavur
103. #90: Manickavasagar Birth Place Temple, Thiruvathavur
104. #91: Thiruthalinathar Temple, Thirupathur
105. #92: Karpaka Vinayakar Temple, Pillayarpatti
106. #93: ShanmuganatharTemple, Kundrakudi
107. #94: Thenatrunathar Sivan Temple, Kundrakudi
108. #95: Kodunkundranathar Temple, Thirukodunkundram
109. #96: Sowmyanarayana Perumal Temple, Thirukoshtiyur
110. Worship, Etiquette and Appreciation
111. #97: Adhi Ratneswarar Temple, Thiruvadanai
112. #98: Pazhampathinathar Temple, Thiruppunavasal
113. #99: Sornakaaleeswarar Temple, Kalayarkoil
114. #100: Athmanathaswamy Temple, Avudaiyar Koil or Thiruperunthurai
115. #101: Sathyagirisvarar Temple, Thirumayam
116. #102: Sathyamurthy Perumal Temple, Thirumayam
117. The Hill of Truth - The Thirumayam Fort Complex
118. Temple Group #5 - Paadal Petra Sthalangal of Pandiya Nadu
119. #103: Suriyanar Koil, Aduthurai, Kumbakonam
120. #104: Agniswarar Temple, Kanjanur
121. #105: Naganathaswamy Temple, Thirunageswaram
122. #106: Mahalingeswarar Temple, Thiruvidaimarudur
123. #107: Vaidyanathaswamy Temple, Vaitheeswaran Koil
124. #108: Naganathaswamy Temple, Keelaperumpallam or Keezhaperumpallam
125. The Temple Hopper's Guide - The Basics of Building Itineraries
126. #109: Swetharanyeswarar Temple, Thiruvenkadu
127. #110: Sattanathar or Thoniappar Temple, Sirkazhi
128. #111: Dharbaranyeswarar or Saneeswarar Temple, Thirunallar
129. #112: Mehanadhar Temple or Lalithambigai Temple, Thirumeeyachur
130. #113: Umamaheswarar Temple, Konerirajapuram or Thirunallam