About trip

History:

• The place and the temple are closely linked with the history of Saint Tirunavukkarasar.  Though born to Saivite  parents and brought up by his Shiva devotee sister Thilagavathy, Marul Neekiar – that was his baptism name – embraced Jainism and rose to Guruhood there with the name Dharumasenar.
• His sister, a staunch Shiva devotee, dedicated herself to the service of Lord Shiva by maintaining the temple, prayed to the Lord seeking her brother’s home coming to Saivism.
• Lord Shiva caused a severe stomach pain to Appar.  None in the Jain camp could cure him.  He came to sister Thilagavathy, fell at her feet for relief.  The affectionate sister took the brother to Veerattaneswarar shrine, chanted the Panchakshara-five letters-Na Ma Shi Vaa Ya – and put the sacred ash on his forehead.  Appar also consumed the ash and was miraculously cured instantly of his deadly stomach pain.
• Out came spontaneously Appar’s first hymn called Kodhil Neediya Tirupathigam beginning with the line “Kootru Aayinavaru Vilakka hileer”. Pleased with his poetic skill, Lord Shiva honoured Appar with the title Tiru Navukku Arasar-Tirunavukkarasar meaning king of tongues.
• Devotees seeking the grace of Lord Veerattaneswarar are relieved from the three basic evils glued with humans – viz. Aanavam-arrogance, Kanma, that which follows birth after birth and illusion.  Devotee visiting this temple reaps the benefit of seeing the Lord in His abode Kailash.  Saint Arunagiriar had praised Lord Muruga of the temple in his Tirupugazh hymns.
• Lord Shiva of this temple is also praised as Sri Samharamurthi (Tirukedilavanar).  It is also believed that Lord Ammai Appar is praying Himself in the sanctum sanctorum.  Mother is also praised as Sri Tirupurasundari.
• Lord Vinayaka is worshipped as Siddhi Vinayaka.
• Other Sacred springs of the temple are Shoola theertham, the well in the temple, Chakkara Theertham, a tank and River Kedila.
• The Thiruvathigai Temple was originally built as a Jain temple by the Pallava king Mahendravarman I in the 6th century AD. However, on his conversion from Jainism to Hinduism, Mahendravarman demolished the existing temple and built a temple to Shiva in its place. The temple contains some remaining Jain artifacts.
• There is also another Shiva temple and a Vishnu temple nearby believed to have been constructed from the remains of the demolished Jain temple.
• King Raja_Raja_Chola_I is believed to have stayed in this temple for a long time to study the architecture before building Brihadeeswarar_Temple.

Itinerary

Day 1 - Cuddalore Sightseeing

Pick up from Theni/Dindigul. Proceeding towards Cuddalore. Hotel Check in. Then proceed to visit Singirikudi Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swami Temple. Bhuvaraha Swami Temple. Padaleeswarar Temple. Come back to Hotel. Overnight stay at Hotel.

Day 2 - Cuddalore Sightseeing

After Refreshment and Breakfast at Hotel. Check out from Hotel. Then proceed to visit Sri Deyva Nayaga Perumal Temple. Sri Veerattaneswarar temple. Then Starting Our Journey Towards Theni/Dindigul.