Shiva temples of Tamil Nadu
![Large, ornate temple with a pool of water in front](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/49/Temple_Tangore_1.jpg/300px-Temple_Tangore_1.jpg)
Shiva temples are Hindu temples with shrines of Shiva, one of Hinduism's principal deities.[a] It is estimated that there are over 260 Shiva temples in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu.[3]
Pancha Bhuta Sthalam
The Pancha Bhuta Sthalam are temples which embody the manifestation of the five elements: land, water, air, sky, and fire.
Image | Temple | Element | Location |
---|---|---|---|
![]() | Sri Ekambaranathar Temple | Land | Kanchipuram |
![]() | Arunachaleshwarar Temple | Fire | Tiruvannamalai |
![]() | Jambukeswarar Temple | Water | Tiruchchirappalli |
![]() | Thillai Nataraja Temple | Sky | Chidambaram |
![]() | Srikalahasti Temple | Air | Kalahasthi, Andhra Pradesh[4] |
Pancha Sabhai
Pancha Sabhai are the five temples where Shiva is believed to have performed the Cosmic Dance.
Image | Temple | Aspect | Location |
---|---|---|---|
![]() | Sri Vadaranyeswarar Temple | Diamond | Thiruvalangadu |
![]() | Chidambaram Temple | Gold | Chidambaram |
![]() | Sundareswarar Temple | Silver | Madurai |
![]() | Nellaiappar Temple | Copper | Tirunelveli |
![]() | Kutralanathar Temple | Art | Kutralam |
Paadal Petra Sthalam
The Paadal Petra Sthalam temples are revered in the Tamil Tevaram, which includes the works of the seventh- to ninth-century Nalvar poets Thirunavukarasar, Sambandar and Sundarar.
Chennai and Tiruvallur
Image | Name | Location |
---|---|---|
![]() | Thiyagaraja Swamy Temple | Thiruvotriyur |
![]() | Kapaleeswarar Temple | Thirumayilai |
![]() | Marundeeswarar Temple | Thiruvanmiyur |
Tiruvaleeswarar Temple | Thiruvalithaayam | |
Masilamaniswarar Temple | Thirumullaivayil | |
Vedapureeswarar Temple | Thiruverkadu | |
![]() | Vaseeswarar Temple | Thirupasoor |
Idaisuranathar Temple | Thiruidaichuram | |
![]() | Marundeeswarar Temple | Thirukachoor |
![]() | Sri Vadaranyeswarar Temple | Thiruvaalangadu |
Undreeshwarar Temple | Thiruvenbakkam | |
Arambeswarar Temple | Ilambayam Kottur | |
![]() | Tripuranthaka Swamy Temple | Thiruvirkolam |
![]() | Vedagiriswarar Temple | Thirukazhukundram |
![]() | Aksheeswaraswamy Temple | Acharapakkam |
Tirukkandalam Sivanandeswarar Temple | Tirukandalam (Thirukkallil), Tiruvallur |
Coimbatore
Image | Name | Location |
---|---|---|
![]() | Perur Pateeswarar Temple | Perur |
![]() | Arulmigu Manneaswarar Temple | Annur |
![]() | Theneeswarar Temple | Vellalore |
Kancheepuram
Image | Name | Location |
---|---|---|
![]() | Ekambareswarar Temple | Kancheepuram |
Maakaraleeswarar Temple | Thirumaagaral | |
Valeeswarar Temple | Kuranganilmuttam | |
Thalapurishwarar Temple/Kirubanathiswarar Temple | Thiruppanangadu | |
Vedapureeswarar Temple | Thiruvothur | |
![]() | Manikandeswarar Temple | Thirumarperu |
Thiruveeral Temple | Thiruveeral | |
Vilwanatheswarar Temple | Tiruvallam |
Panrutti
Image | Name | Location |
---|---|---|
Veerattaaneswarar Temple | Thiruvadigai | |
Shishta Gurunathar Temple | Thiruthuraiyur |
Tindivanam
Image | Temple | Location |
---|---|---|
Chandramouleeswarar Temple | Thiruvakkarai | |
Arasileeswarar Temple | Ozhindhiapattu (Thiru Arasili) | |
Magakaleswarar Temple | Irumbai (Irumbaimagaalam) | |
![]() | Nandieswarar Temple | Thiruvaamathur |
Puravaar Panangattoor Temple | Panangattoor (Panayapuram) | |
Srinidheeswarar Temple | Annamputhur |
Thirukkoviloor
Image | Temple | Location |
---|---|---|
Veerateswarar Temple | Thirukovilur | |
Athulya Nadheswara Temple | Arakandanallur (Araiyani Nalloor) | |
![]() | Marudheeswarar Temple | Idaiyaru |
![]() | Sri Krupapureeswarar Temple | Thiruvennainallur |
Ulundurpettai
Image | Name | Location |
---|---|---|
![]() | Sri Bhakthajaneswarar Temple | Thirunavalur, 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) northeast of Ulundurpet |
![]() | Sornakatesvarar Temple | Thiruvennainallur, 15 km northwest of Ulundurpet |
![]() | Sivaloganathar Temple | Thirumundeecharam, 24 kilometres (15 mi) northeast of Ulundurpet |
Chidambaram
Image | Temple | Location |
---|---|---|
![]() | Nataraja | Center of Chidambaram |
Thiruvetkalam | 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) east of Chidambaram, on the Annamalai University campus | |
Thirunelvayal(Sivapuri) | 3 km southeast of Chidambaram, near the Thiruvetkalam temple | |
Thirukkazhippalai | 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) southeast of Chidambaram |
Kattumannarkoil
Temple | Location |
---|---|
Koodalaiyatroor | 28 kilometres (17 mi) north of Kattumannarkoil |
Omampuliyur | 6 kilometres (3.7 mi) south of Kattumannarkoil, on the north bank of the Kollidam River |
Kaanattumullur | 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) south of Kattumannarkoil, on the banks of the Kollidam River |
Thirunaaraiyur | 6 km northeast of Kattumannarkoil, on the north bank of the Kollidam River |
Thirukkadamboor | 5 km southwest of Kattumannarkoil |
Sirkazhi
Image | Temple | Location |
---|---|---|
Sattainadhar Temple | Center of Sirkazhi | |
Thirukolakka | 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) west of Sirkazhi | |
Then Thirumullaivayil | 12 kilometres (7.5 mi) east of Sirkazhi | |
Magendrapalli | 19 kilometres (12 mi) northeast of Sirkazhi on the south bank of the Kollidam River, 2 km from the Bay of Bengal | |
Thirunalloor Perumaanam (Achaalpuram) | 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) north of Sirkazhi, on the south bank of the Kollidam River | |
Thirukarugaavoor (Thirukadaavoor) | 6 kilometres (3.7 mi) east of Sirkazhi | |
Thillaiyadi (Saranaa Ratsagar Temple) | 9 kilometres (5.6 mi) east of Sirkazhi | |
Kalikaamoor (Annappanpettai) | 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) south of the Then Thirumullaivayil temple | |
![]() | Thiruppunkoor | 3 km west of Vaitheeswaran Koil, on the south bank of the Kollidam River |
Thiruvenkadu | 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) southeast of Sirkazhi | |
Thirukattupalli | 0.5 kilometres (0.31 mi) from the Thiruvenkadu temple | |
Thiruchaaikkaadu | 3 km south of the Thiruvenkadu temple, on the Sirkazhi–Poompuhar road | |
Pallavaneecharam | 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) south of Thiruvenkadu | |
Vaitheeswaran Koil | 7 kilometres (4.3 mi) south of Sirkhazi | |
Radhanallur | 10 km east of Sirkazhi |
Kumbakonam
Image | Temple | Location |
---|---|---|
![]() | Adi Kumbeswarar Temple | Kumbakonam |
![]() | Nageswaraswamy Temple | East of the Kumbakonam bus stand |
![]() | Kasi Viswanathar Temple | Near Porthamarai Kulam in Kumbakonam |
Thirunageswaram | 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) east of Kumbakonam, on the south bank of the Kaveri | |
![]() | Amirthakadeswarar Temple | 5 km southeast of Kumbakonam in Sakkottai, on the south bank of the Kaveri |
![]() | Sivagurunathaswamy Temple | 2 km northeast of Sakkottai, on the south bank of the Arasalaar |
![]() | Tirunarayur Siddhanatheswarar Temple | 10 km southeast of Kumbakonam, adjacent to Nachiyar Koil, on the south bank of the Kaveri |
![]() | Thirukarukkudi (marudhanthanalloor) | 8 km southeast of Kumbakonam, on the south bank of the Kaveri |
![]() | Sivanandeswarar Temple | 3 km northeast of Nachiyar Koil/Tirunarayur Siddhanatheswarar Temple, on the south bank of the Kaveri |
![]() | Padikasu Nathar Temple | 3 km northwest of Nachiyar Koil/Tirunarayur Siddhanatheswarar Temple, on the south bank of the Kaveri |
![]() | Tirucherai Gnanaparameswarar Temple | 5 km south of Nachiyar Koil, 15 km southeast of Kumbakonam, on the south bank of the Kaveri |
![]() | Koneswarar Temple | 15 km from Kumbakonam, on the south bank of the Kaveri |
Tirukkollampudur Vilvaranyeswarar Temple | 6 km southwest of Kudavasal, on the south bank of the Kaveri | |
Kottaiyur Kodeeswarar Temple | 2 km northwest of Kumbakonam, on the north bank of the Kaveri | |
![]() | Innambur Ezhutharinathar Temple | 6 km northwest of Kumbakonam, on the north bank of the Kaveri |
![]() | Sakshinatheswarar Temple | 9 km northwest of Kumbakonam, 3 km from Innambur Ezhutharinathar Temple, on the north bank of the Kaveri |
![]() | Kabartheeswarar Temple | 4 km west of Kumbakonam, on the south bank of the Kaveri |
![]() | Thenupuriswarar Temple | 6 km southwest of Kumbakonam, on the south bank of the Kaveri |
![]() | Sakthivanesvara Temple | Next to Thenupuriswarar Temple, on the south bank of the Kaveri |
![]() | Pazhayarai Vadathali | 2 km from Thenupuriswarar Temple, on the south bank of the Kaveri |
![]() | Thenkurangaduthurai Temple | In Aduthurai, 14 km from Kumbakonam |
Papanasam
Image | Temple | Location |
---|---|---|
![]() | Palaivananathar Temple | 1 km northeast of the Papanasam railway station, on the south bank of the Kaveri |
![]() | Tiruvaikavur Temple | 12 km north of Papanasam, on the south bank of the Kollidam River |
![]() | Vijayamangai Vijayanatheswarar Temple | 1 km east of the Tiruvaikavur Temple, on the north bank of the Kaveri |
![]() | Dayanidheeswarar Temple | 4 km north of Papanasam, on the north bank of the Kaveri |
![]() | Garbharakshambigai Temple | 6 km south of Papanasam, on the south bank of the Kaveri |
![]() | [Kalyanasundaresar Temple | 5 km east of Papanasam, on the south bank of the Kaveri |
![]() | Pasupatheeswarar Temple | 12 km southeast of Papanasam, on the south bank of the Kaveri |
![]() | Chakravageswarar Temple | 10 km west of Papanasam, on the south bank of the Kaveri |
![]() | Alandurainathar Temple, Pullamangai | 3 km from the Pasupathikoil railway station (Kumbakonam-Thanjavur line), on the south bank of the Kaveri |
![]() | Andarkoil Swarnapureewarar Temple | 18 km southeast of Papanasam, on the Kudavasal-Valangaimaan bus route and the south bank of the Kaveri |
Thiru Irumboolai, Aalangudi | 6 km south of Valangaimaan, on the south bank of the Kaveri |
Karaikal
Image | Temple | Location |
---|---|---|
![]() | Tirunallar Dharbaranyeswarar Temple | 5 km west of Karaikal, on the Kumbakonam road and the south bank of the Kaveri |
![]() | Dharumapuram Yazhmoorinathar Temple | 2 km on the Thirunallaru–Karaikal road, on the south bank of the Kaveri |
![]() | Tiruvettakkudi Sundareshwarar Temple | Near Karaikal, on the south bank of the Kaveri |
![]() | Tiruttelicheri Parvatheeswarar Temple | In Kovilpathu, on the south bank of the Kaveri |
Mannargudi
Image | Temple | Location |
---|---|---|
![]() | Vennikarumbeeswarar Temple, Thiruvenniyur, Kovilvenni | 8 km northwest of Needamangalam on the Tanjore-Tiruvarur road, south bank of the Kaveri |
![]() | Parijatha Vaneswarar Temple, Thirukalar | 23 km southeast of Manargudi on the Thiruthuraipoondi road, south bank of the Kaveri |
Chathuranga vallapanathar Temple, Thirupoovanur | 8 km north of Mannargudi on the Needamangalam road, south bank of the Kaveri | |
Kozhuntheesar Temple, Kottur | 15 km southeast of Mannargudi, south bank of the Kaveri | |
![]() | Thiruppaereyil, Ogaiperaiyur | 16 km northeast of Mannargudi, south bank of the Kaveri |
![]() | Nellivana Nathar, Thirunellikaval | 23 km east of Mannargudi, south bank of the Kaveri |
![]() | Manikkavannar Temple, Thirunaattiyathankudi | 10 km northeast of Mannargudi, 12 km southeast of Koothanallur, south bank of the Kaveri |
![]() | Agneeswarar Temple, Thirukollikadu | 19 km from Mannargudi |
Sri Ramanatha Swamy Temple, Thirurameshwaram | 11 km from Mannargudi, on the Thiruthuraipoondi road | |
Vendurainathar Temple, Thiruvanduthurai | 10 km east of Mannargudi, south bank of the Kaveri | |
Thiruneelakanteswarar Temple | 1 km east of Rajagopalaswamy Temple, Mannargudi, south bank of the Kaveri | |
Annamalai Nathar Temple, Mannargudi | 2 km west of Rajagopalaswamy Temple, south bank of the Kaveri | |
Kailasa Nathar Temple | 1.5 km east of Rajagopalaswamy Temple, south bank of the Kaveri | |
Meenakshi Sokkanathar Temple | 4 km southeast of Rajagopalaswamy Temple, south bank of the Kaveri | |
Jayamkonda Nathar Temple | 2 km northeast of Rajagopalaswamy Temple, south bank of the Kaveri | |
Kasivishwa Nathar Temple | 2 km northeast of Rajagopalaswamy Temple, south bank of the Kaveri | |
Kasivishwa Nathar Temple | 1 km north of Rajagopalaswamy Temple, south bank of the Kaveri | |
Kamakshi Samedha Ekambareswarar Temple | 1 km east of Rajagopalaswamy Temple, south bank of the Kaveri | |
![]() | Pamani Naganathar Temple | 2 km north of Mannargudi, south bank of the Kaveri, north bank of the Pamaniyar River |
Thiruthuraipoondi
Image | Temple | Location |
---|---|---|
![]() | Thandalai Neelneri | 3 km north of Thiruthuraipoondi on the Tiruvarur road, south bank of the Kaveri |
Kaichinnam | 11 km north of Thiruthuraipoondi, south bank of the Kaveri | |
Thiruthengoor | 16 km north of Thiruthuraipoondi, 2 km from Thirunellikkaa, south bank of the Kaveri | |
Thirukkollikkadu | 15 km north of Thiruthuraipoondi, south bank of the Kaveri | |
![]() | Thiruchitremam | 14 km northeast of Thiruthuraipoondi, south bank of the Kaveri |
Idumbaavanam | 12 km south of Thiruthuraipoondi, south bank of the Kaveri; 2 km west of Karpaganadharkulam (below) | |
![]() | Thirukkadikulam, Karpaganadharkulam, Karpaganarkoil | 2 km east of Idumbavanam temple, south bank of the Kaveri |
Thiruvuchaathanam, Koviloor | 2 km north of Muthupettai, southwest of Thiruthuraipoondi, south bank of the Kaveri |
Nagapattinam
Temple | Location |
---|---|
Thirunaagaikaaronam | In Nagapattinam, south bank of the Kaveri |
Sikkal | 5 km west of Nagapattinam, south bank of the Kaveri |
Vyagrapureeswarar Temple | 7 km west of Nagapattinam, 3 km from Sikkal |
Brahmapureeswarar Temple | In Thirukkuvalai, 25 km southwest of Nagapattinam, 19 km from Tiruvarur |
Tiruvaimoor | 3 km south of Thirukkuvalai, south bank of the Kaveri |
Vedaranyeswarar Temple | In Vedaranyam, south of Nagapattinam and the Kaveri |
Agathiyanpalli | 2 km south of Vedaranyam on the Kodikkarai road |
Kodi Kuzhagar Temple | In Point Calimere, 9 km south of Thirumaraikkadu |
Namakkal
Temple | Location |
---|---|
Ardhanareeswarar Temple | Tiruchengode |
Sri Asala Deepeshwarar Temple | Mohanur |
Thanjavur
Image | Temple | Location |
---|---|---|
![]() | Vedapuriswarar Temple | 7 km north of Thanjavur, 1 km from Thirukkandiyur; Kaveri south bank |
![]() | Vasishteswarar Temple | In Thittai, 10 km north of Thanjavur; Kaveri south bank |
![]() | Paridiniyamam Parithiappar Temple | 18 km southeast of Thanjavur, 4 km north of Orathanad; Kaveri south bank |
![]() | Aradhaiperumpaazhi, Arithuvaramangalam | Accessible by the Thanjavur bus; Kaveri south bank |
![]() | Avalivanallur Satchinathar Temple | 3 km west of Aradhaiperumpaazhi; Kaveri south bank |
![]() | Akshayapureeswarar Temple | In Vilankulam, 18 km from Peravurani |
![]() | Brihadisvara Temple | 1 km from old bus stand, 1 km from Thanjavur palace |
Tiruchirappalli
Image | Temple | Location |
---|---|---|
![]() | Rockfort temple | In the center of Tiruchirappalli, on the south bank of the Kaveri |
![]() | Panchavarnaswamy Temple | Urayur |
![]() | Jambukeswarar Temple | In Thiruvanaikaval, 3 km north of Tiruchirappalli |
![]() | Erumbeeswarar Temple | In Thiruverumbur, 11 km east of Tiruchirapalli on the Thanjavur road |
Madurai
Image | Temple | Location |
---|---|---|
![]() | Meenakshi Temple | Madurai city center |
![]() | Thiru Aappanoor | About 2 km from the city center, on the north bank of the Vaigai River |
Subramaniya Swamy Temple | 9 km southwest of Madurai, one of the Six Abodes of Murugan | |
Edaganathar temple | In Thiruvedagam, 17 km northwest of Madurai | |
![]() | Piranmalai Kodunkundreeswar Temple | 24 km northwest of Thiruputhur |
![]() | Poovananathar Temple Thirupuvanam | 19 km east of Madurai, on the Vaigai River |
![]() | Adhi Ratneswarar Temple | Tiruvadanai |
![]() | Thirumeninathar temple | In Tiruchuli, 48 km south of Madurai |
![]() | Kalaiyar Kovil | 18 km east of Sivaganga |
![]() | Tiruttalinathar Temple | In Thiruputhur, 20 km west of Karaikkudi |
Thiruppunavayil | 25 km south of Thiru Aappanoor | |
Shree Kailasha Nathar Temple | In Piramanoor, 23 km east of Madurai |
Dindigul
The Lord Malligarjuna Swamy Temple is in Kondarangi Keeranur, Dindigul district.
Tirunelveli
Image | Temple | Location |
---|---|---|
![]() | Nellaiappar Temple | Tirunelveli |
![]() | Thirukutralam | Kutralam |
![]() | Sankaranayinarkoil | Sankarankovil |
![]() | Kasi Viswanathar Temple | Tenkasi |
![]() | Papanasanathar Temple | In Papanasam, 49 km from Tirunelveli |
Sivasailam Temple | In Sivasailam, 60 km from Tirunelveli |
Tiruvannamalai
Image | Temple | Location |
---|---|---|
![]() | Arunachalesvara Temple | In Tiruvannamalai, 64 km west of Tindivanam |
Agastheesvarar Temple | In Purisai, between Cheyyar and Vandavasi |
Rameswaram
Image | Temple | Location |
---|---|---|
![]() | Ramanathaswamy Temple | Rameswaram |
Nava Kailasam temples
These nine Shiva temples are on the Thamirabarani River near Tirunelveli:
- Papanasam
- Cheran Mahadevi
- Kodaganallur
- Kunnathur, Tirunelveli[5]
- Murappanadu
- Srivaikuntam
- Thenthiruperai
- Rajapathy
- Senthamangalam, Tuticorin
References
- V. T. Ramasubramaniam. Thamizhaga Sivalayangal 308.
Notes
- ^ a b "mandir". The Chambers Dictionary (9th ed.). Chambers. 2003. ISBN 0-550-10105-5.
- ^ "mandir". Collins English Dictionary (13th ed.). HarperCollins. 2018. ISBN 978-0-008-28437-4.
- ^ information, Temples in India (30 December 2016). "264 Shivalayas in Tamil Nadu, List of Lord Shiva Temples in Tamilnadu". Temples in India Info: Unveiling the Divine Splendor. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
- ^ "Shaivam.org".
- ^ "Arulmigu Gothaparameshwarar Temple Kunnathur | Tirunelveli District, Government of Tamil Nadu | India".
- ^ /ˈməndɪr, -dir/ MUN-dər, -deer; 'd' dental.[1][2] also mandira /ˈməndɪrə/ MUN-dər-ah[1]
External links
- Temples in Tamil Nadu – An introduction