Temples of Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry #97: Adhi Ratneswarar Temple, Thiruvadanai
- Sudharshan
- Sep 27
- 3 min read
ஆதிரத்தினேசுவரர் திருக்கோயில், திருவாடானை
The name of this town is pronounced "Thiruvaadaanai" and is more aptly spelled that way often. In Tamil, "Aadu" means goat and "Aanai" means elephant. Legend says that Vaaruni, son of Varuna the God of Rain, once upset a rishi who cursed him to be born as an animal with the head of a goat and the body of an elephant. This strange creature was rid of its curse by worshipping Lord Sivan here. Thus this place came to be known as Aadanai. Some sources claim that it was the sage Bhrigu who was cursed thus and gained his redemption here. The sun being the oldest celestial body in the solar system is known as Aadhi or the beginning. Aadhi also means eternal and the sun is our eternal source of energy. The Sun God had worshipped Lord Sivan here by placing the Lord on a pedestal of jewels and that is why the Lord here is known as the Aadhiratneswarar. Lord Sivan is in the form of a self manifested suyambulingam that appears to be made of a special stone that shines blue at midday when the abhishekam is done. Arjuna, one of the Pancha Pandavas, is said to have been shown how to use the Pasupatha missile by Lord Sivan here.
This ancient Sivan temple had early Pandiyan beginnings and has been built upon by many succeeding dynasties. As it is a Paadal Petra Sthalam, it must have existed in some form in the early 7th century. There is inscriptional evidence that the Nayakkan kings of Madurai maintained this temple during their time. The Sethupathy kings of Ramanathapuram and the Nattukottai Chettiar have done great work here during the 19th century. Today, the royal house of the Ramanathapuram Samasthanam and its trust, the Ramanathapuram Devasthanam take an active part in its upkeep.
At 10 acres it is a fairly large temple. It faces east. It is surrounded by high, solidly built walls. It has an imposing 9 tier rajagopuram that is visible for miles around. It is around 130 to 140 feet in height. It can be seen from 10 miles away. There is an east-facing separate shrine for Goddess Snehavalli. There is also a Murugan shrine in the temple premises that is quite ancient. Murugan has a single face and only 4 arms. The thalavirutcham is the vilvam tree. There are 6 theerthams here. In ancient times this place is believed to have been a forest of Vilvam trees. With a special connection to the sun, the rays of the sun fall directly on the sanctums of the Lord and Goddess Snehavalli in the Tamil month of Masi. Although there are many regular festivals celebrated here, the Vaikasi Visaka Vasantha Utsavam is the most important and occurs in May/June.
It is the 253rd Paadal Petra Stalam and the 9th in the Pandiyan country. Thirugnasampanthar sang thus:
மாதோர் கூறுகந்தேற தேறிய
ஆதி யானுறைஆடானை
போதி னாற்புனைந் தேத்து வார்தமை
வாதி யாவினைமாயுமே.
(Bad karma will not affect those who worship, with praise and devotion, the Eternal Lord who resides here at Aadanai astride his bull with this beloved Goddess Uma as part of him. Those bad karma will disappear)
The temple is located about 100 km or 2 hours east of Madurai. It is about 42 km or 45 minutes southeast of Karaikudi. We visited in June 2025. We were based in Kanadukathan.
Sources: Dinamalar - Adhirathneswarar Temple, Thiruvadanai
Census of India 1961, Volume IX, Part XI-D, Temples of Madras State, Page 270
Shaivam.com - Thirugnasampanthar Thevaram 2.112
Credits: Google Maps
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