அண்ணாமலையார் திருக்கோயில், திருவண்ணாமலை One of the five Panchabootha Sthalams, this is one of the most important Sivasthalams. Located in the town of Thiruvannamalai, the Annamalaiyar or Arunachaleswarar is an ancient and very significant temple. It is the Panchaboothasthalam associated with fire or Agni. Lord Siva manifests here as the Agni Lingam in the sanctum sanctorum. It is a Paadal Petra Sthalam sung in praise by all three of the Moovar, Thirugnanasampanthar, Thirunavukkarasar and Sundaramoorthy Nayanar. Manickavasagar composed the Thiruvempaavai here. Throughout history Thiruvannamalai has been a magnet for the spiritually and philosophically inclined, more so than other temples in South India. The modern day saint, Ramanamaharishi spent most of his life here drawing hundreds of followers to his Ashram. The temple lies at the foot of the holy hill of Thiruvannamalai. The mountain itself is considered sacred and is venerated. Every year in the Tamil month of Karthigai (November/December), thousands flock to this temple to witness the Karthigai Deepam when a giant fire is lit on the top of the holy hill of Arunachala. It is visible for miles around and is a grand spectacle. Legend says that once Shiva manifested as a huge column of fire here and asked Lord Vishnu and Lord Brahma to find the bottom and top of this fiery column. The column of fire solidified into the holy mountain of Thiruvannamalai or Arunagiri. Every year in November and every fortnight on the Pradosham and on other special days, thousands of believers undertake the trek around the mountain called the Girivalam. The temple has ancient origins. As a Paadal Petra Sthalam, it certainly existed in some form in the early 7th century. At that time it was under the Pallavas. The earliest structures according to inscriptions are from the 9th century under the Cholas. During the nearly four centuries of Chola rule from the 9th to the 13th centuries, they rebuilt and expanded this temple. It was later maintained by the resurgent Pandians in the 13th century and subsequently came under the control of the Hoysala kings. In 1328 the great Hoysala king Veera Ballala III, under increasing pressure from the Sultanates to the north, shifted his capital to Thiruvannamalai from present day Karnataka. He expanded the temple. A lot of the structures and traditions, present today are from his time. He was defeated by Ghiyas-ud-din Muhammad Damghani, the Sultan of Madurai, at the battle of Kannanur near Thiruchirapalli in 1343 where he was captured, killed and flayed (skinned). This led to a decline in the maintenance of the temple only to be revived by the Vijayanagar emperors in the late 14th to 16th centuries. All three dynasties of Vijayanagar, the Sangama, the Saluva and the Tuluva have left inscriptions here. This was continued by the Nayakkar. The temple was briefly in the hands of the Nawab of Arcot before slipping into the possession of French and then British administrations. Spreading over 25 acres, it is one of the largest temple complexes in India . It has tall gopurams on all sides. White in colour, they look majestic. The tallest is the Eastern Gopuram at 217 feet. It is one of the tallest temple towers in all of India. It was built by the great Vijayanagar emperor Krishnadevaraya. It also has a large thousand pillared hall built during the Vijayanagar period. There are seven prakarams or circumambulatory pathways. Today it is controlled by the HR and CE Department of the Government of Tamil Nadu. Given the great cultural importance of the temple, the ASI or the Archeological Survey of India declared it a monument of national importance and took over its stewardship in 2002. The Tamil Nadu Government sued against the decision and it was returned to the control of the HR and CE by the Supreme Court of India. It is about 2 hours or 90 km south of Vellore and 2 hours or 100 km west of Pondicherry. We visited in August 2014. We were based in Salem. Credits: Google Maps

திரு தோதாத்திரிநாத வரதராஜப் பெருமாள் கோயில், திருபுவனை This is an ancient temple in the outskirts of Pondicherry again built by Paranthakan I (great grandfather of Raja Rajan) in the early to mid 10th century. It is a Vishnu temple. It has characteristic Chola architecture but has features like the kodimaram likely added at a later age. It has a flat rajagopuram. The structure sits on a pedestal or raised platform. It is considered a treasure-house of Chola art and architecture and contains a number fine sculptures and structures. There are inscriptions from the 11th century attributed to Rajendra Chola I and his son Rajadhi Raja I describing the recitation of the Vedas and the Thiruvaimozhi from the works of the Aalwaar saint Nammalvar. This area was caught up in the Carnatic wars between the English and the French in the 18th century and many temples were completely destroyed as a result. This temple is one of a few that had been miraculously spared intact. It is a relatively small temple. Although administered by the ASI, it is an active temple. It is located about 20 kms or 40 minutes west of Pondicherry. We visited in May 2023. We stayed in Pondicherry. Credits: Google Maps

காமாட்சியம்மன் திருக்கோயில் காஞ்சிபுரம் Often referred to as the City of a Thousand Temples, Kanchipuram is an ancient city in India that has been inhabited continuously since perhaps the Palaeolithic period. It is one of the oldest and holiest cities in India. It has a long tradition as a centre of learning for Hindus, Buddhists and Jains. Although the city has many temples, the Kamakshi Amman temple is considered the most important and is central to many other temples. Here the Goddess has a temple all to herself and her consort Lord Shiva is housed in a separate temple nearby, the Ekambarishvarar. It is of note that many of the Sivan temples in Kanchipuram do not have an Ambal shrine. The Kamakshi Amman is the Ambal shrine for all these temples. It is one of the 51 Shakthi Peedams in India and together with Madurai Meenakshi and Akilandeshvari at Thiruvanaikkaaval, it is one of the three most revered temples dedicated to Goddess Parvati in Tamil Nadu. It is a very important pilgrimage site. It has a strong association with Adi Sankaracharya, the 8th century saint-philosopher who contributed much to the revival of Hinduism in the south and elsewhere in India. He is credited with installing the Sri Chakra Yantram that is worshipped in the sanctum to this day. The Goddess here is found as a seated idol in a Padmasana pose. The antiquity of the temple likely predates the Pallavas who ruled from here since the 6th century to the 9th. They likely rebuilt the temple, although inscriptional evidence is lacking. It has been rebuilt again since and Chola artisans from the 14th century are responsible for the surviving architecture in the inner core. The Vijayanagara and Nayakkan kings of course have left their mark especially with lofty gopurams. Given its long history, the layout of the temple is somewhat complicated with the additions over many eras. At 5 acres in area, it is certainly not huge. The vimanam over the sanctum has a gold plated cap. Together with the nearby Ekambarishvarar and the Kumarakottam Murugan Temple in between, the three temples are built to represent the Somaskanda manifestation of Lord Shiva. The temple is located in Kanchipuram, about 2 hours or 80 km southwest of Chennai. We visited in July 2010. We were based in Chennai. Credits: Google Maps

மணக்குள விநாகர் திருக்கோயில், புதுச்சேரி This is the most popular temple in the city of Pondicherry. Frequented by locals and foreign visitors alike, it is very popular among tourists. You see a lot of European visitors here. Manakula is derived from Manal ( மணல்- sand) and Kulam (குளம் - pond). Apparently there was a pond here with a sandy bottom. It is nowhere to be seen now. It is an ancient temple and has been in existence for at least the last 500 years. The French built a fort here in 1688 and mention this temple as an obstacle to the expansion of the fortifications. In 1701 the French tried to demolish the temple but the skilled workforce of Pondicherry who were crucial to the French colonial economy threatened to leave Pondicherry en masse and the French backed down. In 1708 a group of people led by foreign missionaries heavily vandalized the temple. There is also a legend that a French official once tried to remove the Ganesha idol and throw it in the sea. Every time he did that the idol miraculously and inexplicably reappeared in the sanctum. He finally got injured while trying to get his men to destroy the idol and became an ardent devotee. Despite its storied history, the temple today sports a very modern look with polished, shiny granite floors and newly painted interiors. The moolavar - Lord Ganesha sits on a well which apparently is very deep. Usually Lord Ganesha is depicted as a bachelor, but there is an image in this temple where he appears with two consorts which is very unique. Photography is strictly prohibited and we could not take any pictures inside the temple unfortunately. It is located in the city of Pondicherry. We visited in May 2023. We stayed in Pondicherry. Credits: Google Maps

The Great Living Chola Temples The Great Living Chola Temples are a group of 3 Chola era temples that are designated together as a UNESCO World Heritage Site due to their outstanding cultural and architectural value. The temples are the Brihadishvarar or Peruvudayar Temple or the Big Temple at Thanjavur, the Brihadishvarar Temple at Gangaikondacholapuram and the Airavatesvarar Temple at Darasuram. Together they represent an era in Tamil history when great heights were achieved in the development of temple building in the Tamil country. They are treasure houses of the impressive sculptural art of the period. All three draw thousands of devotees, temple enthusiasts and tourists every year. The Cholas ruled for four centuries beginning in the late 9th century until their eventual decline and demise in the 13th century. During that time they built a great number of granite temples throughout the Tamil country but largely centred in the Chola heartland around Thanjavur, Kumbakonam and Trichy. Picking up where the Pallavas left off, they continued to build in stone as opposed to temples of a previous era built of brick, wood and other perishable materials. Throughout the 10th century they concentrated on renovating and rebuilding in stone temples of immense religious significance. For example, the Paadal Petra Sthalangal were rebuilt in stone during that period to the extent that we do not know how the original temples looked like. Having thus honed their skills in building stone temples, they set out to build new temples of their own. These temples are symbolic of that grand effort. The Chola kings were deeply Saivite and these three temples are dedicated to Lord Siva. Jointly administered by the Archeological Survey of India or the ASI and the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department or HR and CE of the Government of Tamil Nadu, the preservation of the temples is the responsibility of the ASI. The HR and CE is in charge of the day-to-day functioning of the temples. Damaged, desecrated, abused, plundered and neglected during alien invasions over the centuries and colonial rule, today what remains of these temples is reasonably well preserved and at least some of the rituals are continued making them living legacies of Chola grandeur. Unlike some other temples which have been built over many different eras and contributed to by various dynasties, these temples for the most part were built during the reign of a single monarch. Brihadishvarar or Peruvudayar Temple or the Big Temple at Thanjavur Completed in 1010 CE, this temple was commissioned and consecrated by the great Chola emperor Rajaraja I. In a way, it was built to reflect the growing power the Chola empire and the deep devotion of the emperor towards Lord Siva. It was modelled on earlier smaller temples but built on a massive scale. To this day it remains one of the largest temple structures in India. At a height of almost 60 meters the tall vimanam is an impressive structure. It is to be noted that this is a vimanam built over the sanctum sanctorum and not a gopuram as it is often mistakenly referred to as. The main structure was built during Rajarajan's reign. A few external structures have been added in the 13th century and in the 16th century during the rule of the Nayakkar of Thanjavur. The temple is located in Thanjavur. Brihadishvarar Temple at Gangaikondacholapuram This temple was built by the son of Rajaraja I, the great Chola emperor Rajendra Chola I. Many believe that Chola power was at its peak under Rajendra. He established a new capital at Gangaikondacholapuram to commemorate the success of the expedition he sent north to subdue the kingdoms along the eastern coast. The expedition brought back symbolic pots of water from the Ganga giving the new city its name. He built this temple to embellish his new capital. It was completed in 1035 CE. The vimanam is 55 meters tall and is a bit shorter than Thanjavur, but is more beautiful. It has an upward concavity which gives it a certain feminity and grace as opposed to the more angular and masculine vimanam at Thanjavur, The temple is located in Gangaikondacholapuram close to Jayamkondan. Airavatesvarar Temple at Darasuram This temple was built by Rajaraja II and was completed in 1166 CE. Named after Lord Indra's elephant the Airavatham, it is not as large as the other two temples in this group and does not sport a tall vimanam. But the sculptural art is more intricate and advanced than the other two. Especially interesting is the Rajagambhira Thirumandapam or Royal Courtyard. It is built in the form of a chariot and has ornate pillars and other sculptures carved out of stone. The temple is located on the outskirts of Kumbakonam. Courtesy Google Maps Access: These three temples are fairly close to each other. Dharasuram is on the outskirts of Kumbakonam which is a good place to stay to visit this temple. Thanjavur also has good accommodation. Trichy is not too far away either. Gangaikondacholapuram is about 45 minutes from Kumbakonam and an hour from Thanjavur by car.

While the Nayanmar were busy traversing the land to celebrate ancient Sivasthalams, another set of poet saints called the Azhwar or Alvaar (ஆழ்வார்), did the same for Tamil Vaishnavism. Crisscrossing the land, they too sang in beautiful Tamil to immortalize ancient Vishnu temples in poems that have been compiled as the Naalayira Divya Prabandham (the 4000 Divine Compositions). They lived between the 6th and 9th centuries. The revered temples mentioned in these works are known as the Divya Desam temples - Temples of the Divine Realm. The term Azhwar (pronounced Aalwar, with a retroflex "L") comes from the Tamil word for depth (Azh -ஆழ்) and stands for their deep and intense devotion to Lord Vishnu. 12 in number they came from varied backgrounds. One, Aandaal was a woman. Other prominent Azhwars were Periyazhwar, Thirumangai Azhwar and Nammazhvar. The songs they composed came to be known as the Mangalasasanam and were in praise of specific temples that were very special. The Divya Desam temples are 108 in total. Of these, 105 are in India, one in Nepal and two are celestial, the divine ocean of Thiruparkadal and Vaikuntham, the abode of Lord Vishnu. Of the 105 in India, 84 are in Tamil Nadu, 11 are in Kerala, 2 are in Andhra Pradesh, 4 are in Uttar Pradesh, 3 are in Uttarakhand and one is in Gujarat. The most well-known temples include Srirangam, Tirupati, Srivilliputtur and Alagarkoil Sources: Divyadesam.org Divyadesam.com Interactive Map of the Divya Desam Temples (Courtesy Google Maps and the creators)

ஆறு படை வீடு அல்லது அறு படை வீடு கோயில்கள் The Aaru Padai Veedu (ஆறு படை வீடு) or Aru Padai Veedu (அறு படை வீடு) are a group of six temples dedicated to Lord Murugan. Located around various regions of the state of Tamil Nadu, these temples are both ancient and of great spiritual significance to the Tamil people. Murugan is often referred to as the Tamil God and he likely predates the establishment of formal Vedic Hinduism or Sanatan practices in the Tamil country more than two thousand years ago. They find mention in ancient Tamil texts of the Sangam era. Thousands of pilgrims flock to these temples throughout the year and on special days and during festivals, the numbers swell to the tens of thousands. The great temples builders like the Pallava, Chola, Vijayanagar and the Nayakkar primarily worshipped Lord Siva or Lord Vishnu and built temples dedicated to these two deities. Perhaps for that reason the Murugan temples are not architecturally as impressive as the others. But to the devotee they are very important temples. These six temples are some of the most popular temples in Tamil Nadu. They are frequently referred to as the abodes of Murugan but a Padai Veedu means a battle encampment or fortress in Tamil emphasizing the martial qualities of Lord Murugan. But the six temples also symbolize various other attributes of Lord Murugan including knowledge and renunciation. The six temples are in order, Thiruparankundram near Madurai, Thiruchendur near Thoothukudi, Palani near Dindigul, Swamimalai in Kumbakonam and Thiruthani close to Chennai. Thiruparankundram is located on the outskirts of Madurai. It is the first Padai Veedu. It is also renowned as a Paadal Petra Sivasthalam. It is an ancient temple. It began as a rock cut cave temple set against a hill. The core of the temple is still the cave sanctum with it is idols cut into the rock face. The temple has been built in front of it over time by various dynasties. The entire hill is considered holy. Legend holds that this is where Lord Murugan married Devasena or Deivanai after he defeated the demon Surapadman. Thiruchendur is located on the seashore near Thoothukudi. It is the only coastal abode with others situated on or near hills or hillocks. This where legend says that Lord Murugan battled and defeated the demon Surapadman. Its location is special as it has survived many natural disasters like tsunamis over the centuries as well as the ravages of foreign invasions. Palani or Pazhani is located on top of a hill near the town of Dindigul in the interior of Tamil Nadu. The temple is also known as Thiru Avinankudi. The idol here is thought to be made of a combination of herbal substances called the Navapashanam in ancient times. It is a much revered shrine. It is either reached by climbing steep series of steps or by a rope or cable care that transports pilgrims to the top. This temple symbolizes Lord Murugan as the ascetic and emphasizes renunciation from worldly affairs as a central characteristic of the Hindu faith. The Lord here is also celebrated as Dhandayuthapani. Swamimalai in Kumbakonam is located in the Chola heartland. It is built on a small man made hillock. This is where Lord Murugan expounded the Pranava Mantra to his father Lord Siva according to legend. As such it symbolizes the wisdom of Lord Murugan. There are sixty steps to reach the sanctum symbolizing the 60 years in the Hindu calendar. Thiruthani is the fifth abode and is located near Chennai. It is situated on a hill surrounded by lush green forests. There are 365 steps to reach the top symbolizing the days of the year. Legend says that this where Lord Murugan attained inner peace after the intense battle with Surapadman. As such it symbolizes meditation and inner tranquility. The sixth and last abode is Palamuthircholai or Pazhamuthircholai which is located north of Madurai near Alagar Malai. It is up on a hillside and surrounded by verdant forest land. This is where Lord Murugan married Valli. It is also purported to be where the ancient legend which describes the Tamil poetess Avvaiyar being taught a lesson in semantics by the Lord Murugan in the guise of a young lad. It is known as the Sutta Palam (சுட்ட பழம்) versus the Sudatha Palam (சுடாத பழம்) story. Thiruparankundram is best accessed from Madurai which has excellent accommodation and access to a modern airport and rail connections. It is located on the southern outskirts of Madurai. Thiruchendur is located near Thoothukudi and Thirunelvely. Both towns have good accomodation and are easily accessible from Madurai. Swamimalai is near Kumbakonam which has decent hotels as it is a major pilgrimage centre and is also close to Thanjavur and not very far from Trichy either. Thiruthani is about 2.5 hours by car from Chennai and Chennai is the best base to access it. To visit Swamimalai, the best place to stay is Madurai. Courtesy Google Maps

Image created using Canva Of the 276 Paadal Petra Sthalangal, six are located within the city of Chennai. Chennai is a rapidly enlarging city and it is difficult to define a boundary. Rather than sticking to strict administrative confines, we have elected to include the area within the Outer Ring Road. All six temples are within easy travel distance from anywhere in the city of Chennai. These ancient and storied Sivan temples have existed in some form or the other for more than 1500 years and have seen many dynasties come and go. They were established temples even in the early 7th century when Thirugnasampanthar and Thirunavukkarasar visited these historic temples. These six temples in Chennai are Paadal Petra Sthalangal and have dedicated Pathigams or decads, poems of around 10 stanzas dedicated to them by one or more of the Moovar or the 3 great saints of the Tamil Saivite tradition. Living in the 7th and 8th centuries, they revived the faith by traveling from one temple to the other with their bands of followers singing, chanting, performing miracles, cleaning and renovating much revered Sivan temples. This area is in the Thondai Mandalam or Thodai Nadu, the ancient country in the northeast of the Tamil speaking lands. There are 32 Paadal Petra Sthalangal in the Tamil Nadu part of Thondai Nadu. This region has been ruled by various dynasties including the Pallava, the Chola, the Nayakkar, the Nawabs of Arcot and the colonial British. The temples of the region carry the effects of these various dynasties, both positive and negative. The temples are: Kapaleeshwarar Temple at Mylapore or Thirumayilai The most famous of the Paadal Petra Sthalangal of Chennai, it is well known to many. As a popular temple in a busy city, it is an active and thriving temple with large crowds of both devotees and tourists, Sampanthar rendered the Pathigam here. It is the famous Poompavai Pathigam with which he revived the dying Poompavai back to life. Early mornings are peaceful and quiet to experience the temple. Thiyagarajaswamy Temple at Thiruvottiyur Located in north Chennai, a rough and tumble part of the city, some have been reluctant to go here for safety concerns. It is an ancient gem. A beautiful and sprawling temple, Sung in praise by all three of the Moovar, it is a much revered temple, We visited close to midday and it was a very pleasant experience. Marundeeswarar Temple at Thiruvanmiyur This is an ancient temple in the quieter, southern part of Chennai. It is a Paadal Petra Sthalam. Thirugnasampanthar and Thirunavukkarasar sang in praise of this temple. Marundeeswarar is Lord Sivan as the God of Medicine. It is an urban and popular temple and can be crowded at times. Thiruvaleeswarar Temple at Thiruvalithayam or Padi This lesser known temple in the industrial, western suburb of Chennai, is not known to many as a Paadal Petra Sthalam. It was praised in the Thevaram by Thirugnanasampanthar. It is believed that the original temple was much bigger and only the inner core remains. It is still beautiful . Not crowded and a peaceful temple at most times. Masilamaneeswarar Temple at Thirumullavayil Located on the northwestern edges of the city of Chennai, this ancient Sivan temple is a Paadal Petra Sthalam. It was celebrated in Thevaram hymn by Sundaramurthynayanar in the 8th century. Beautiful temple. Was very peaceful when we visited. Vedapureeswarar at Thiruverkadu This temple on the northwestern edges of Chennai is a Paadal Petra Sthalam. Thiruverkadu is known more for the popular Devi Karumariamman temple there. But this Sivan temple is much older. Thirugnanasampanthar rendered the pathigam for this temple. Very peaceful temple with ancient architecture. Sources: Thevaram Courtesy Google Maps

அக்னீசுவரர் திருக்கோயில், கஞ்சனூர் Identified with the Navagraham deity Lord Sukkiran or Venus, this temple is a popular pilgrimage site as it is one of the nine Navagraham temples. There is no special or separate shrine for Lord Sukkiran, but Lord Sivan the presiding deity himself manifests as Lord Venus. It is a Paadal Petra Sthalam celebrated in the Thevaram. It is located on the north bank of the Kaveri near Kumbakonam. Kanjan is another name for Lord Venus and thus this village is known as Kanjanur. Given the great antiquity of the temple, there are many legends centred around it. It is said that Lord Sivan blessed Lord Vishnu when he came here in his Vamana Avatharam after being cursed by the Asura Guru Shukracharya. Lord Agni the God of Fire, once got rid of an affliction here. Hence the name Agniswarar for the Lord here. The temple is also associated with the legend of Haradattar. Haradattar was a Sivan devotee who was born into a staunchly Vaishnavite family with the birth name Sudharshanar, and embraced Lord Sivan against his family's wishes. Lord Sivan himself is believed to have given Haradattar dharshan in the form of Dakshinamurthy. The Dakshinamurthy idol in this temple has a figure representing Haradattar at his feet in addition to the traditional Muyalagan under his right foot. Manakanchara Nayanar (மானக்கஞ்சாற நாயனார்), Chola general and one of the 63 Saivite saints was born here. His son-in-law and fellow Chola commander turned saint, Eyarkon Kalikkama Nayanar (ஏயர்கோன் கலிக்காம நாயனார்), was also closely associated with this temple. Once an ardent devotee of Lord Sivan inadvertently killed a calf and was extremely remorseful. He approached Haradattar who advised him to feed a bundle of grass to the Nandhi here, The stone Nandhi is believed to have eaten the grass. Hence the Nandhi here has been known as Pullunda Nandhi (the Nandhi that ate grass) ever since. There are many other stories including the one about Suraikai Bakthar. Suraikai (சுரைக்காய்) is bottle gourd in Tamil. Suraikai Bakthar cultivated bottle gourd for a living and distributed most of it to the poor. One day he had only one gourd left which he was saving for its seeds. Then Lord Sivan appeared in the guise of a poor beggar and asked for food. The benevolent farmer did not have the heart to say no. He cut the last gourd in half and fed the beggar. There is a special shrine here for him. It is believed that Lord Sukkiran worshipped Lord Sivan here. The sage Parasarar was given the vision of the cosmic dance here and was cured of insanity. The temple was patronised by Medieval Chola kings who built the earliest existent granite structures. It was extensively renovated by kings of the Vijayanagar Empire in the 15th and 16th centuries. The Nayakkar have also made significant contributions. There are inscriptions from the times of Vikrama Cholan, Kulothunga Cholan I, Veera Rajendra Cholan and Krishnadevaraya, the Vijayanagar emperor. It has a 5 tiered rajagopuram and two prakarams. The sivalingam here absorbs the oil poured on it during abhishekam. It is a self-manifested Suyambulingam. The temple and the deity face east but the rajagopuram faces south. The arthamandapam has a peculiar architecture and is called the Vavval Nethi (bat's forehead) mandapam. The sthala virutcham is the Purasu or Pala tree, a subspecies of the Jack tree. The main theerthams are the Agni Theertham and Parasara Theertham tanks. The major festivals are the Maasi Magam, Aadi Pooram as well as the Haradattar Festival in January. It is a Paadal Petra sthalam and one of the seven Saptha Sthana Sthalams of Kanjanur. This is the 90th Paadal Petra Sthalam and the 36th on the northern bank of the Kaveri. Thirunavukkarasar or Appar rendered the pathigam or decad during his visit here in the early 7th century. He stopped here on his way to Thirukodikkaa from Thirumanancheri. He sings thus: மூவிலைநற் சூலம்வல னேந்தி னானை மூன்றுசுடர்க் கண்ணானை மூர்த்தி தன்னை நாவலனை நரைவிடையொன் றேறு வானை நால்வேத மாறங்க மாயி னானை ஆவினிலைந் துகந்தானை அமரர் கோவைஅயன்றிருமா லானானை அனலோன் போற்றுங் காவலனைக் கஞ்சனூ ராண்ட கோவைக் கற்பகத்தைக் கண்ணாரக் கண்டுய்ந் தேனே (He who holds a three-leaved trident in His right hand; He is triple-eyed; He is the Moorthi; He is the Poet; He rides a white Bull; He is the four Vedas and the six Angas; He is the master of the five actions. He is the king of the Devar. He is praised by Brahma, Vishnu and Agni, the Lord of Fire. He is our protector. He is benevolent like the karpagam tree. He is the king of Kanjanur. I saw him to my eyes' content and felt deeply blessed) The temple belongs to the HR and CE but the Madurai Thirugnana Sambantha Swamigal Adheenam retains a direct role in its day to day administration. The maintenance can be better. It is located about 111km or 2 hours east of Thiruchirapalli and 130 km or 3 hours south of Pondicherry. It is close to Kumbakonam and just 18 km or 30 minutes east of it. We visited in June 2025. We were based in Kumbakonam. Sources: Dinamalar Temples - Agneeswarar Kanjanur (Tamil) N. Chockalingam 1971, Census of India 1961. Volume IX. Part XI -D. Temples of Tamil Nadu Page 160 Shaivam.org -Thevaram Courtesy Google Maps

தாயுமானசுவாமி திருக்கோயில், மலைக்கோட்டை, திருச்சிராப்பள்ளி High above the city of Thiruchirapalli, on the ancient rock formation that dominates the city, this Paadal Petra Sivan Temple has been built onto the living rock. The geological age of the exposed granite is several billion years old and has been home to human habitation since prehistoric times. The temple has been here at least since the early 7th century, when Thirugnanasampanthar and Appar venerated it in the Thevaram. It likely predates that time by centuries. The story goes that once there lived a young woman at the base of the hill, who was an ardent devotee of the Lord. When she was pregnant, her mother who lived on the other side of the River Kaveri was to attend to the delivery of her child. But the river was in spate and the mother could not cross the river when the young woman went into labor. An old woman miraculously appeared and took the place of the mother and safely delivered the baby. When the actual mother later appeared, the mysterious old woman had disappeared. It is believed that the Lord himself came as the old woman and henceforth he was called Thayumanavar (தாயுமானவர்), "he who also became the mother". The Lord faces west while the Kodithambam or flagstaff is on the east. There is an interesting story about this too. It is said that there was once an old sage who grew a garden of Sevvanthi flowers or Chrysanthemums and presented it to the Lord everyday. The Chola king, who ruled from nearby Uraiyur (now a suburb of Thiruchirapalli) grew a liking to the Chrysanthemums and started taking them for the palace use which very much distressed the sage, which in turn angered the Lord. He turned away from the king's palace and caused a sandstorm that covered it. Thus the Lord is also known as Sevvanthinathar. The temple is also associated with the 18th century erudite Saivite scholar and saint, Thayumanavar who was named after the Lord here and dedicated his life to the temple. The temple is on an east-west axis with the Lord facing west. It is a two-tier temple with the goddess Mattuvarkuzhali (மட்டுவார்குழலி) Amman on the lower level and Thayumanavar in a large Sivalingam form on the upper level. The temple is at a height of about 150 feet with the summit of the hill at 273 feet. It is a steep climb of about 258 steps. There are three active temples on the hill. The small Ganesha temple at the base is called the Manikka Vinayakar and it is customary to worship there before making the climb. The Ganesha temple at the top is known as the Uchipillayar temple. The hill is believed to be in the shape of a sitting Nandhi. The main theertham is the Brahmatheertham which is a large tank in the middle of town. The Sthalavirutcham is the Vilvam. The climb up has a number of smaller shrines and temples excavated into the rockface. As you ascend, you reach a point where turning left takes you to the Thayumanavar temple and you reach the Uchipillayar by turning right and climbing further up. The hill itself has evidence of Pallava influence and it is possible that the Pallava king Mahendravarman I initiated the first major construction of the Sivan temple. There might have been an earlier Jain structure. Pandiyan, Chola and Vijayanagar influences are evident. But the majority of the construction seen today is from the Nayakkan era. The various mandapams including the Nootrrukkal Mandapam or One Hundred Pillared Hall seen to the left just before reaching the Thayumanavar temple contain some exquisite sculptural art from that period. The major festival is the Chithirai Brahmotsavam in April/May. Many other festivals are celebrated throughout the year. The temple is open from 6.00 am and 12.00 pm and then from 4.00 pm and 8.30 pm. The temple is celebrated in Thevaram by Thirugnanasampanthar and Thirunavukkarasar. Thus it is a Paadal Petra Sthalam. It is the 6th Paadal Petra Sthalam on the south bank of the Kaveri and the 123rd overall. Thirugnanasampanthar sang thus: நன்றுடை யானைத்தீய திலானைநரை வெள்ளே றொன்றுடை யானையுமை யொருபாக முடையானைச் சென்றடை யாததிருவுடை யானைச்சிராப் பள்ளிக் குன்றுடை யானைக்கூற என்னுள்ளங் குளிரும்மே. (The mere mention of Him, who is all that is good, who is nothing that is bad, who rides a spotless white bull, who has Uma as part of him, who has a limitless wealth of good qualities and who owns the hill of Chirapalli, soothes my heart) Thevaram 1.98 Thirunavukkarasar says: மட்டு வார்குழ லாளொடு மால்விடை இட்ட மாவுகந் தேறு மிறைவனார் கட்டு நீத்தவர்க் கின்னரு ளேசெயும் சிட்டர் போலுஞ் சிராப்பள்ளிச் செல்வரே. (The Lord who together with Mattuvarkuzhali, joyfully rides a bull, blesses those who have renounced their worldly bonds, is like a sage who has attained the ultimate knowledge and he is the Lord of Chirapalli) Thevaram 5.85 The temple is part of the Rockfort complex in the heart of the city of Thiruchirapalli. Thiruchirapalli is 332 km to the southwest of Chennai and is well connected by modern highways, rail and air. It has an international airport. We visited in January 2005, July 2012 and August 2026. We were based in Thiruchirapalli or Trichy. Sources: Dinamalar Temples - Sri Thayumanava Swami Temple P.K Nambiar, K.C. Narayana Kurup, Census of India 1961. Volume IX. Part XI -D. Temples of Madras State: Thiruchirapalli and South Arcot pages 198-199 Thevaram Shaivam.org Courtesy Google Maps

மங்களநாதசுவாமி திருக்கோயில், உத்திரகோசமங்கை This is a very ancient Siva temple on the coast in the southern district of Ramanathapuram of Tamil Nadu. Some claim that this is the oldest Sivan temple in the south. The site obviously is very old. It is not a Paadal Petra Sthalam (பாடல் பெற்ற தலம்) but is mentioned in the 9th century work by the Tamil Saivite poet-saint Manickavasagar ( மாணிக்கவாசகர்), the Thiruvasagam (திருவாசகம்). It lies 72 km or a 90 minute drive west of Rameswaram, over the Pamban bridge, on the mainland of the ancient Sethu country. Set in a serene rural area, this is indeed a hidden treasure. It is 111 km or 1hour and 45 minutes southeast of Madurai. Originally built by Pandian kings it was renovated and expanded many times later by other dynasties including Vijayanagar and Nayakkan kings. The current structure is an amalgamation of many styles by different builders over time. The Pandian kings built the core and others added on to it. We can see the stamp of the Sethupathi kings too. At 20 acres, it is larger than most other temples. The 5.5 feet high ancient emerald statue of Nataraja here is very special and is covered in sandalwood paste for most of the year to protect it. There are also Yalis with rolling balls in their mouths which are sculptural marvels. The legends mention a coastal temple. The sea seems to have receded several kilometres here over the centuries. Numerous legends abound. The name comes from the legend that Siva disclosed the secret of the universe to Uma at this site. Mandothari worshipped Sivan at this place and married Ravanan here. The 64th Thiruvilayadal (திருவிளையாடல்) - the Valai Veesiya Padalam (வலை வீசிய படலம்)- when Siva in a fit of anger cursed Parvathi to be born as a fisherman's daughter and Nanthi as a shark, is believed to have happened here. He later appeared as a fisherman, caught the shark and married the fisherman's daughter. Siva gave a private audience of the cosmic dance to Parvathi here before he danced in the Thillai forest. There are many many other stories, too numerous to write here. Come here to be blessed if you are a Hindu, especially a Saivite. If you are not, still come here to experience the history and the beauty of an ancient temple in a peaceful setting. Please note the differences in style of the inner gopurams (likely Pandian) and the outer gopurams (likely Vijayanagar or Nayakkan). Different eras. The narrow tall rajagopuram is for the Siva shrine and the squat shorter one is for the Amman shrine. It is administered by the controversial Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department of the Government of Tamil Nadu. We visited in Aug 2019. We used Rameswaram as the base. Credits: Google Maps

ஆதிஜெகநாதப்பெருமாள் திருக்கோயில், திருப்புல்லாணி This ancient Vishnu temple is located about 122 km or 2 hours southeast of Madurai. It is quite close to Uthirakosamangai. It is a Divya Desam temple venerated in the Naalayira Divya Prabantham and closely associated with the Ramayanam. Sri Raman spent 3 nights here contemplating the invasion of Lanka resting his head on a pillow of Dharbai grass. Hence the name of this place. The legends speak of a coastal temple but it now lies at least 5 km from the shore, suggesting that the sea receded around here. It is the end result of a thousand years of temple building with a Pandian core. The Cholas, Vijayanagar, Nayakkar and the Sethupathis contributed in their own way. It is a beautiful temple. We visited in August 2019. We were based in Rameswaram. Credits: Google Maps