About trip

About Temple: This is one of the 276 Devara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalams and 50th 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 Parvatheeswarar, Sree Sameevaneswarar
• Ambal:Sri Swayamvara Thapaswini, Sri Shakti Nayaki, Sri Ampaduttakkannaal
• Theertham (Holy water):Surya Theertham and Guha Theertham
• Sthala Vriksham (Sacred Tree):Vilvam / Vanni tree
• Pathigam (Hymn) rendered by:Saint Thirugnanasambanthar.
• Location:Thiruthelichery, Karaikkal, Puducherry.

History:

• This west facing temple’s main tower (Rajagopuram) has 5-tiers and it has 2 corridors.
• Karaikkal is the birth place of saint Karaikkal Ammaiyar, one of the 63 revered Nayanmars.
• The last consecration (Kumbabishekam) took place on 07.06.2004 and prior to that on 09.05.1971.
• Karaikkal is one of the oldest port cities and business centres of South India. Now Karaikkal is a part of Puducherry.
• It is believed that Lord Shiva here has seen the pasage of four “Yugas”. As per the sthala purana, this place was known as Brahma Vanam in Kretha Yugam, Sameevanam in Thretha Yugam, Ananda Vanam in Dwapara Yugam and Mukthi Vanam in the present Kaliyugam.
• The historical names of this place are – Mukthi Sthalam, Sivathalam, Suriyathalam, Guhathalam and Gaurithalam. 
• Other than the shrines of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvathy, shrines and idols of Lords Sambantha Vinayakar, Murugan with his consorts, Natarajar with Sivakamasundari, Somaskanthar, Dakshinamurthy, Nardhana Ganapathy, Lingothbavar, Brahma, Durgai, Chandikeswarar, Gajalakshmi, Nalvars, Navagraham, Suryan with Renukadevi, Chandiran, Pidariyamman, 63 Nayanmars, Kasi Viswanathar with Visalakshi and Bhairavar can be seen in the corridors.
• There is also a separate shrine for Saneeswaran with his wife Renuka Devi in the corridors.
• It is believed that those seeking “santhana prapthi” (child boon) can pray to Goddess Parvathy here.
• Devotees can pray to Goddess Swayamvara Thapaswini here for removal of obstacles from their wedding proposals. 

Itinerary

Day 1 - Puducherry Sightseeing

Morning Pick up from Theni/Dindigul. Then proceed to visit Sri Paarvatheeswarar Temple at Thiruthelichery, Karaikkal. Arikamedu. The Pondicherry Botanical Garden. Pondicherry Museum. Come back to Hotel. Overnight stay at Hotel.

Day 2 - Puducherry Sightseeing

Morning Breakfast at Hotel. Check Out from Hotel. Then proceed to visit Auroville Beach. The Old Lighthouse. Mahatma Gandhi Statue. Arulmigu Manakula Vinayagar Temple . Sri Aurobindo Ashram. Then starting our Journey towards Theni/Dindigul.