About trip

About Temple: This is one of the 276 Devara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalams and 94th Shiva Sthalam on the Southern bank of the river Cauveri in Chozha Nadu (Thenkarai).
Lord Shiva in this temple is a Swayambumurthi (self-manifested).

• Moolavar:Sri Koneswarar, Sri Suryeswarar, Sri Birugu Nathar
• Ambal:Sri Periyanayaki, Sri Brahannayaki
• Theertham (Holy water):Amritha Theertham
• Sthala Vriksham (Sacred Tree):Vaazhai (Plantain tree)
• Pathigam (Hymn) rendered by:Saint Thirugnanasambanthar-2.
• Location:Kudavayil (Kudavasal), Thiruvarur, Tamil Nadu.

History:

• This temple is counted as one of the Maadak Koils built by King Kochengat Cholan.
• This west facing temple has two corridors and its main tower is not tiered. In place of the Gopuram, there is a beautiful sculpture depicting Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvathy.
• The last consecration ceremony (Maha Kumbabishekam) took place in the year 2012 and prior to that on 27.06.1985 and 10.06.1970.
• This ancient temple was built by King Kochengat Chola. This is a Maadak Koil and it has 18 steps to reach Lord Shiva’s shrine. The lower part of this temple is known as “Kudavayir Kottam”.
• It is believed that Kochengat Chola imprisoned one of his enemies, Seran Kanaikkal Irumporai in this kottam.
• This temple finds mention in the Puranaanuru and Aganaanuru texts of the Sangam period (300 BC – 300 CE) literatures. The songs by famous poets Kudavayil Keerthanar and Kudavayil Nallathanar are also part of Aganaanuru.
• The historical names of this place are Garudathiri, Kathalivanam and Vanmikaachalam. This temple’s historical name is “Perunthirukkoil”.
• There are four stone inscriptions in this temple which date back to the period of Chola King Kulothungan-III.
• Other than the shrines of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvathy, shrines and idols of Vinayakar, Murugan (“Kudavayir Kumaran”) with his consorts, Thanthontrinathar, Kasi Viswanathar, Natarajar, Dakshinamurthy, Chandikeswarar, Sapthamathas, Navagraham, Bairavar (2), Chandran, Suryan, Soodha Munivar, Saneeswarar, few Shivalingams, Vinayakar with few Nagars, Nalvar, Sundaramurthy Nayanar with Paravai Nachiyar, Idumban, Dhandapani, Kalaimagal (Saraswathi) and Gajalakshmi can be seen in the main hall and corridors.
• There is also an idol of Garudan who can be seen worshiping Lord Shiva.
• There is no Durgai here as Goddess Parvathy herself is depicted as Brahathdurgai.
• Devotees make it a practice to worship Lord Shiva, Suryan and Chandran here. It is believed that by doing so, they will be absolved of the sins that they have accrued by not performing the rituals for their ancestors (“Sradh”).
• Devotees also worship Lord Shiva of this temple for prosperity and wisdom.

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 Koneswara Swami Temple at Kudavayil (Kudavasal) Sri Agnieeswarar Temple sri Seshapureeswarar Temple. Then Starting Our Journey Towards Theni/Dindigul.