About trip

About Temple: This is one of the 276 Devara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalams and 58 Shiva Sthalam on the Southern bank of the river Cauveri in Chozha Nadu (Thenkarai). Lord Shiva in this temple is a Swayambumurthi (self-manifested). This is a famous “parihara sthalam” for conducting ancestral rites similar to that performed it in Rameswaram.

• Moolavar:Sri Madhimuktheswarar, Sri Mandaravaneswarar
• Ambal:Sri Porkodi Nayaki, Sri Swarnavalli, Sri Maragatha Valli
• Theertham (Holy water):Surya Theertham, Chandra Theertham and river Arisilaru
• Sthala Vriksham (Sacred Tree):Mantharai tree
• Pathigam (Hymn) rendered by: Saint Thirugnanasambanthar.
• Location:Thiru Thilathaipathi (Sethalapathi), Thiruvarur,Tamil Nadu

History:

• This east facing temple’s main tower (Rajagopuram) has 3 tiers. However, the back side of the tower is flat (without any reliefs). The temple has a single corridor.
• The sanctum’s tower is called “Dhuvithala Vimanam”.
• The last consecration (Kumbabishekam) ceremony took place on 08.07.2012 and prior to that on 25.08.1999.
• The temple is situated on the southern banks of the river Arisilaru which is flowing in the north to south direction. Rivers flowing in such direction are called “Uthiravahini”.
• The historical names of this place are Thilathai Pathi and Thilatharpanapuri. However, now it is known as Sethalapathy. The historical name of the temple is Madhimutham.
• Other than the shrines of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvathy, shrines and idols of lords Vinayakar, Murugan with his consorts, Natarajar with Sivakami, Ram, Lakshman, the Lingams worshiped by Ram, Kasi Visvanathar, Nagar, Gajalakshmi, Navagraham, Bairavar, Nalvar, Suryan and Chandran can be seen in the corridors.
• In the “koshtam” (place surrounding the sanctum sanctorum) , idols of Narthana Vinayakar, Dakshinamurthy, Mahavishnu, Brahma and Durgai can be seen.
• A small shrine for Lord Mandaravaneswarar (Lord Shiva) can be seen under the temple’s sthala viruksham (Manthara tree).
• A unique feature of this temple is that Lord Mahavishnu is seen in three places in three different postures – as Lord Ram, as Mahavishnu in place of Lingothbavar and as Perumal along with Sreedevi and Poodevi. 
• Similar to Rameswaram, performing rituals for ancestors here is considered to be of great significance.
• This is a parihara sthalam for “Pithru Dosha”. 

Itinerary

Day 1 - Thiruvarur Sightseeing

Pick up from Theni/Dindigul. Proceeding towards Thiruvarur Hotel Check in. Then proceed to visit Veerataneswarar Temple, Thiruvirkudi, Arulmigu Abathsahyeswarar Temple. Arulmigu Saraswathi Temple. Come back to Hotel. Overnight stay at Hotel.

Day 2 - Thiruvarur Sightseeing

After Refreshment and Breakfast at Hotel. Check out from Hotel. Then proceed to visit Sri Madhimuktheswarar Temple at Thiru Thilathaipathi (Sethalapathi). Sri Agnieeswarar Temple sri Seshapureeswarar Temple. Then Starting Our Journey Towards Theni/Dindigul.