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| Life inTamil Nadu |
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This is a list of temples in the Indian state ofTamil Nadu.[1] Tamil Nadu is the state with the highest amount of temples in India. According to the Tamil Nadu Hindu Endowments Board, there are 390,615Hindu temples in the state. Many of these temples are over 800 years old and are spread across the state. These temples were built over centuries by the rulers of various dynasties.[1]
The state holds some of thelargest Hindu temples.[2] Historical records for the temple date back to at least 3,000 years ago.[3] In Indian and Tamil culture, temples are not only considered as a place for spirituality but also shows the way of living, art, culture, knowledge, and sacrifice of people's life to protect the temples from invaders.[4] Many temples contain inscriptions detailing the democratic rule of kings, which later inspired India's modern voting system.
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Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple, dedicated toMaha Vishnu, is located inSrirangam. It is the largest temple compound inIndia and one of the largest religious complexes in the world.[7][8] Some of these structures have been renovated, expanded and rebuilt over the centuries as a living temple. The latest addition is the outer tower that is approximately 73 metres (240 ft) tall and was completed in 1987.[9][10][11] The temple is an active Hindu house of worship and follows theTenkalai tradition ofSri Vaishnavism. The temple is one of the oldest temples in the world, which consists of inscriptions dating around 100 BCE.[12] The annual 21-day festival conducted during the Tamil month ofMargali (December–January) attracts at least one million visitors every year. The temple complex has been nominated as anUNESCO World Heritage Site and is in UNESCO's tentative list.[7]
Other temples likeMadurai'sKallalagar temple — which has highGopuram towers ornamented with colourful figures — and theMeenakshi Temple, which has high colourful towers and great long halls, are also of note. OnPamban Island,Ramanathaswamy Temple is a pilgrimage site. The town ofKanyakumari, at India's southernmost tip, is the site of ritual sunrises.[13]
The state also abounds withtemple tanks. The state has 2,359 temple tanks located in 1,586 temples. The government has identified 1,068 tanks for renovation.[14]
| S.No | Name of Temple | Name of Deity | Location (Travel Base) | Built around | Notes/Beliefs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Karpaka Vinayakar Temple | Karpaka Vinayakar | Pillayarpatti (Karaikkudi) | 7th century CE[15] | One of only two temples in the world that show Ganesha with two arms. The other is in Afghanistan.[16][17] |
| 2 | Ucchi Pillayar Temple | Uchhi Pillayar | Tiruchirappalli | 700-900 CE[18] | Ganesha is shown with a small bump on his head, which was caused whenVibhishana knuckled him on his head.[19] |
| 3 | Manakula Vinayagar Temple | Manakula Vinayagar | Pondicherry (Puducherry) | 1688 CE[20] | Named as Bhuvaneshar Ganapathy, now called as Manakula Vinayagar. In Tamil 'Manal' means sand and 'Kulam' means pond near the sea, meaning God near the pond of sand. |
| 4 | Uchchhishta Ganapathy Temple | Uchchhishta Ganapati | Tirunelveli | 1000 CE | The only big ancient temple more than 1000 years ago for Uchishtta Ganapathy is situated in Manimoortheeswaram on the banks of River Thamirabarani inTirunelveli, Tamil Nadu, India. |
| 5 | Sri Poyyamozhi Vinayagar Temple | Sri Poyyamozhi Swayambu Vinayagar | Theevanur (NH 66 (Krishnagiri-Pondicherry National Highway), Tindivanam, Tamil Nadu) | 1100 CE[21] | Swayambu Vinayaka temple with a Ganesha that looks like Siva Lingam. Very Powerful deity that cures all diseases, gives boon for power and position |
| 6 | Meenakshi Temple | Mukkuruni Vinayakar | Madurai | 1600 CE | This popular Ganesha shrine is located inside the Madurai Meenakshi Temple. |
| 7 | Adi vinayagar Temple | Adi vinayagar | Poonthottam (Thiruvarur) | 700 CE | The name Thilatharpanapuri comes from two words thil meaning Gingely and tharpana is the Hindu ritual of performing pithru karmas (ritual of paying tribute to ancestors) to one's ancestors. It is also known as Sethalapathy. There are 7 sthalams for performing these rituals viz. Kasi, Rameswaram, Srivanchiyam, Thiruvenkadu, Gaya, Triveni Sangamam & Thilatharpanapuri. |
| 8 | Abhishtavaradha Ganapathi Temple | Abhishtavaradha Ganapathi | Thiruvaiyaru (Tanjavur) | - | Agastya attained his dwarf form at this abode.[22] |
| 9 | Naramuga Vinayakar Temple | Naramuga Vinayakar | Chidambaram (Cuddalore) | - | The Ganesha idol is human-faced in this temple.[23] |
| 10 | Ganapatheeswarar Temple | Vatapi Ganapathi | Tiruchenkattankudi (Tanjavur) | 700 CE | The Ganesha idol was brought here fromVatapi by thePallavas.[24] |
| 11 | Khabartheesar Karpaga Nathar Temple | Sweta Vinayakar | Tiruvalanchuzhi (Tanjavur) | - | The deity represents the white image of Ganesha that was formed when the Devas churned theholy milky ocean |
| 12 | Eachanari Vinayagar Temple | Ganesan | Eachanari (Coimbatore) | 1500 CE | The deity was brought here fromMadurai by theNayaks, originally meant forPerur Temple.[25] |
| 13 | Puliakulam Vinayakar Temple | Munthi Vinayakar | Puliakulam (Coimbatore) | 1993 CE | The idol of the chief deity here is supposed to be one of the largest inSouth Asia.[25] |
| 14 | Sree Vigneswarar Temple | Sree Vigneswar | Mela Kolappadi-Andimadam (Ariyalur district) | 1997 CE | The idol of the chief deity here is supposed to be one of the largest inSouth Asia.[25] |
| 15 | Periya Uchipillaiyar Temple | Uchhi Pillayar | Periya Uchipillaiyar Temple (Kumbakonam) | 1000 CE | The temple is in the city centre ofKumbakonam. |
| 16 | Sri Maha Ganapathi Temple | Ganapathi Agraharam | Sri Maha Ganapathi Temple nearKumbakonam | 1000 years | The temple is 25 km fromKumbakonam on Thiruvaiyaru bus route. The Vinayagar was actually installed at this temple by Agasthiyar (Ancient Hindu priest) more than 1000 years ago. He had done this with a holy intention of protecting the globe against of massive starvation. The Ganapathi idol has its own look, where this cannot be seen anywhere else. |
| 17 | Arulmigu Prasanna Vinayagar Temple | Sri Prasanna Vinayagar | Arulmigu Prasanna Vinayagar Temple, Ganapathy PudurCoimbatore | 1937 CE | The temple kumababishekam held on 1937 ganapathypudur in Coimbatore district Website:https://temple.dinamalar.com/New.php?id=2187 |
| 18 | Jambhulinga Vinayagar Temple | Sri Jambhulinga Vinayagar | Jambhulinga Vinayagar Temple, Thathankuppam, Chennai | 1940 CE | The temple is known for a court case in which a statue responded to identify among the many were stolen |
| 19 | Panchamuga Vinayagar Temple | Sri Panchamuga Vinayagar | Panchamuga Vinayagar Temple, Paramathi VelurNamakkal | The temple where you will find 4 sides of face and on top of that one face of Vinayagar |
| S.No. | Name of Temple | Name of Deity | Location (Travel Base) | Built around | Notes/Beliefs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tiruavinankudi Temple[26] | Dandayudhapani Swami | Pazhani (Dindigul) | - | This temple is the third among the six Holy Abodes.[27] The Murugan idol was made byBogar from anamalgam of nine toxic substances (Navabaashaanam)[28] |
| 2 | Arulmigu Subramanya Swami Temple[29] | Senthil Andavar | Tiruchendur (Thoothukkudi) | 100 CE [30] | This is the second among the six abodes and the only seashore Murugan temple. It is here that Surasamharam takes place, as this temple was Murugan's battle camp against theasura Surapadman who was being hosted at Vira Mahendram, a mid-oceanfortress. |
| 3 | Swamimalai Murugan Temple | Swaminatha Swamy | Swamimalai (Thanjavur) | - | This temple is the fourth among the six Holy Abodes. Murugan explained the meaning ofOmkaram to his fatherShiva here.[31] |
| 4 | Tirupparankunram Murugan Temple | Subramanya Swami | Tirupparankunram (Madurai) | - | Murugan marriedDeivanai at this abode, also is the fourth among theSix Holy Abodes of Murugan[32][33] |
| 5 | Tiruttanikai Murugan Temple | Tanikesan | Tiruttani (Tiruvallur) | - | Murugan married Valli at this abode. This temple is the fifth among the six Holy Abodes. Murugan imparted the knowledge ofTamil toSage Agathiyar here[34] |
| 6 | Pazhamudhircholai Temple | Malaikkizhavon | Pazhamudhircholai (Madurai) | - | This temple is the last one of the six Holy Abodes. Murugan testedAvvaiyar's knowledge under a tree here[35] |
| S.No | Name of Temple | Name of Deity | Location (Travel Base) | Built around | Notes/Beliefs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Balasubraminiya Swamy Temple | Murugan | Thiruvidakazhi,Mayiladuthurai | 25 CE[36] | It is a 2000-year-old Murugan temple believed that Lord Murugan worshipped Lord Shiva here, making the temple a sacred site for absolving sins and removing obstacles to marriage. |
| 2 | Kuzhanthai Velappar Temple | Murugan | Poombarai (Kodaikanal) | 1000 CE[37] | The Kuzhanthai Velappar Temple (Kulandai Velayudha Swami Tirukkovil)[6] has three thousand years of history and was consecrated by Bhogar. The idol is made of Navaphasanam(Dasabashanam) . As per inscriptions in the temple which temple has built by king of Chera dynasty during 10/12 Century.There is a song-poem(Poombarai Velan) by Aruna giri nathar who lived during the 15th century[38] |
| 3 | Sri Navaneethaswara Swamy Temple | Singaravelavar | Sikkal (Tanjavur) | - | Murugan received his weapon, the Velayudham, from his motherParvathi and used it to perform the Surasamharam at Tiruchendur.[39] |
| 4 | Marudamalai Subramanya Swamy Temple | Dandayudhapani Swamy | Marudamalai (Coimbatore) | 1200 CE[40] | It's here that The Devas approach Murugan to seek his help in destroying Surapadman. |
| 5 | Kumarakkottam Subramanya Swamy Temple | Brahmasaastha[41] | Kumarakkottam (Kanchipuram) | - | Kachiappa Sivachariar wrote the sacred Kanda Puraanam at this temple. Also, Murugan assumed the role of the Creator here, after imprisoning Brahma for his ignorance of the meaning of the Pranava manthiram.[42] |
| 6 | Valliyur Subramanya Swamy Temple[43] | Aanantha Kalyana Subramanyar[44] thirumalai kovil, shencottai | Valliyur (Tirunelveli) | - | The Subramanyar Temple at Valliyur in Tirunelveli District is a rock-cut sanctum carved out of a hill. TheSaravanappoigai in this temple was created by Murugan at the request of Valli, his consort.[45] |
| 7 | Vallakkottai Murugan Temple | Kodaiyandavar[46] | Vallakkottai (Chennai) | - | The Murugan idol in this temple is the tallest in Tamil Nadu, at 7 ft.[47] |
| 8 | Kandaswamy Temple | Kandaswamy | Tirupporur (Chennai) | 1000 CE[48] | After killing Surapadman at Tiruchendur, Murugan killed the rest of the asuras here, at Tirupporur (literally, 'place of the sacred war') |
| 9 | Sri Subramaniya Swamy Temple | Kumara Vayalur | Tiruchirappalli | 1200 years | Muruga blessed the saint-poet Arunagiri Nāthar at Vayalur by writing OM in his tongue and initiated him to compose Tiruppugal. Arunagirināthar wrote 18 verses (910–927) on Vayalur in the Tiruppukal. Nataraja is in the Sadura Danda pose in this Temple. |
| 10 | Shanmuganathan Temple | Aarumaga Swamy | Viralimalai (Tiruchirappalli) | - | Sage Vasishtar and his wife Arundhathi pray Murugan here to ward off their curses. The temple is also known for its peacocks.[49] |
| 11 | Mayilam Murugan Temple | Aarumaga Swamy.[50] | Mayilam (Villupuram) | - | At the end of Surasamharam, one half of Surapadman assumed the form of the peacock here.[51][52] |
| 12 | Pazhani Aandavar Temple | Pazhani Andavar | Vadapalani, Chennai | 1875 CE[53] | One of the temples built in the modern era, this temple had extensive patronage from the renowned devotee of MuruganArulmigu Kribanandha Variyar.. |
| 13 | Sri Vetri Velayudhaswami Temple | Kaithamalai | Uttukuli | Not Known but Reconstructed in 1999[54] | Vetri Velyadhaswami appeared in front the great Tamil saint Agastiyar and helped him to perform his poojaAgastiyar. |
| 14 | Thindal Murugan Temple | Thindalmalai | Erode | - | Velyadhaswami temple is a model of Birla Mandir, with Golden Temple Car. |
| 15 | Arulmigu Subramanyaswamy Thirukovil | Sivanmalai,Kangayam, | Tirupur | - | One of the well known myths associated with Siva is his conquest of Tripuram – the three celestial cities which the Asuras (demons) had taken over, and wreaked havoc over them. The Devas (celestial gods) appealed to Siva for help and asked him to save them from the demons. Siva made mount Meru his bow, and Vasuki the serpent his bow-string and prepared to wage war against the Asuras. |
| 16 | Arulmigu Balamurugan Temple | Pachaimalai | Gobichettipalayam | - | One of the two hill temples for Murugan in Gobi, the other one being Pavazhamalai which is only 2 km away from Pachaimalai. Though this temple is very old, the structure has been built starting 1967. |
| 17 | Muthu Kumaraswamy Temple | Pavalamalai | Gobichettipalayam | - | The second hill temple for Murugan in Gobi. |
| 18 | Siragiri Dandayudhapani | Chennimalai | Erode | - | This hill is also called Sigaragiri, Pushpagiri and Siragiri and is located between Kangeyam and Perundurai. It is one of the better known temples of Murugan in Coimbatore district where Arunagirinathar was blessed with "Padikasu", wealth of coins. This is where a miracle took place in the year 1984 on 12 February. On that eventful day two bullocks of their own accord pulled a bullock cart up the 1320 steps. Saravana Munivar wrote the most popular Chennimalai Sthalapuranam 700 years ago. Milk and curds are used as special offerings to Murugan in Chennimalai and it is the general belief that curds do not become sour here. |
| 19 | Velayudhasamy Thirukoil | Pugazhi malai | Karur | 2000CE | The temple is located on a hillock. This place is called Aarunattar malai which is considered as one of the oldest Hill rock of the south. |
| 20 | Balasubramaniya Murugan Temple | Vennai malai | Karur | 1800CE | The temple was worshiped by Brahma and Kamadhenu. This ancient temple dedicated to Muruga has the distinction of being visited by the Saiva saint Arunagirinathar once. This hill temple enshrines the images of Murugan. |
| 21 | Arulmigu Balamurugan Temple | Rathnagiri | Thirumanikundram, Vellore | 1500CE | Rathinagiri Bala Murugan Temple was built around the 14th century. Over the passage of time an ordinary sand structure was converted into a stone shrine. The 14th Century poetArunagirinathar' has sung about this temple asRathinakiri Vazh Murukane Ilaya Vaaramarar Perumaley, which means 'Murugan, the God of Devas resides in Rathinagiri' |
| 22 | Rajendra Chozheewarar Temple | Balasubramaniyan | Periyakulam,Theni | - | - |
| 23 | Sri Kolanjiappar Temple | Kolanjiappar | Manavalanallur 2 km from Vriddhachalam | 1000 years old | The benevolent Shiva so as to liberate the entire living being has incarnated himself in many holy Shrines in the so-called Middle Country. (Nadu Naadu). Vriddhachalam (means age old holy hill) is the best among such holy shrines. Two Mile west of this, there is a small village namely Manavalanallur. Where there is abundance of flowery trees bristling with humming of birds and insects. It is known as Manavalanallur because Murugan, the Manavalan (Eternal Bridegroom) has embodied himself here. In the words of Arunagirinathar. "He is the Manavalan residing in the monkeys inhabited hill" |
| 24 | Uthanda Velayudhaswamy temple, Uthiyur | Velayudhasamy | Uthiyur Hills, | 9th century CE | Uthanda Velayudhasamy Temple is the main shrine dedicated turugan after a flight of 100 steps inUthiyur hills from the ground. It built indravidian architecture with a huge water-well as well and the little path with few rocky steps beside the temple lead to the base of a hillock and the steps ended there as well. In this shrine,Velayudhaswamy appears with his spear andPeacock. There are manysculptures here and also some ancient era hero-stones.[55] |
| 25 | Balasubramaniyar Temple, Siruvaapuri | Balasubramaniyar | Chinnambedu, Siruvaapuri, | 14th century CE | Siruvaapuri is connected to the epic Ramayanam and is the place where the sons' of Rama, Lava and Kusha lived. Since they fought with Rama here it is called "Siruvar Por Puri", which latter became "Siruvaapuri". However, the village is now called as Chinnambedu. Arunagirinathar the Tamil Saint of 14th century CE has visited this temple and has composed Tiruppukal songs on the Murugan in this temple. He is standing facing the deity. The special feature of this temple is the presence of emarald peacock. The village is located 40 km from Chennai and can be reached by a detour before reaching Puduvoyal near Kavarapettai, before Gummidipoondi in Chennai - Kolkatta NH. |
கரிகிருஷ்ணா பெருமாள் கோவில் பொன்னேரி.
திருப்பணிகரிசல்குளம்Thiruppanikarisalkulam, Near Pettai, Tirunelveli Dist, Tamil Nadu .திருப்பணிகரிசல்குளம்Thiruppanikarisalkulam, Near Pettai, Tirunelveli Dist, Tamil Nadu .
TheNavagraha temples are a set of nineHindu temples, each dedicated to one of the nine planetary deities, theNavagraham, in various places around the towns ofMayiladuthurai andKumbakonam.
| S.No | Name of Temple | Name of Deity | Location (Travel Base) | Built around | Notes/Beliefs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suryanaar Temple | Surya (Sun) | Aduthurai (Thanjavur) | 1100 CE[64] | This is the only Navagraham temple where the other eight grahams are also present. But, unlike the usual Navagraham arrangement, all other grahamsface Surya here[65] |
| 2 | Agniswarar Temple | Shukra (Venus) | Kanchanoor (Thanjavur) | 600-800 CE[66][67] | - |
| 3 | Kailasanathar Temple | Chandra (Moon) | Tingalur (Thanjavur) | ||
| 4 | Vaitheeswaran Temple | Mangala (Mars) | Vaitheeswaran kovil (Mayiladuthurai) | 600-800 CE | - |
| 5 | Tirunageswaram Naganathar Temple | Rahu | Tirunageswaram (Thanjavur) | 950 CE | This temple was built byGandaraditya Chola, son of Parantaka Chola I.[68] |
| 6 | Tirunallar Saniswaran Temple | Sani (Saturn) | Tirunallaru (Karaikkal) | - | - |
| 7 | Nagannathaswamy Temple | Kethu | Keezhperumpallam (Mayiladuthurai) | - | - |
| 8 | Apatsahayesvarar Temple | Guru (Jupiter) | Alangudi (Thiruvarur) | - | - |
| 9 | Swetharanyeswarar Temple | Budha (Mercury) | Tiruvenkadu (Mayiladuthurai) | - | - |
| S.No | Name of Temple | Name of Deity | Location (Travel Base) | Built around | Notes/Beliefs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kuchanuraan Temple, Sri Mayakoothar Devasthanams, Perungulam | Ashtamathu Sani (Saturn) | Kuchanur (Theni) | - | Shani is the main deity in this temple, unlike other temples where he is worshipped either along with other Navagrahams or is worshipped from a shrine that is a part of a bigger temple.[69] |
| 2 | Navapasanam Devipattinam Temple | Navagaragam Nine stone | Devipattinam Ramanathapuram(dist) | - | This is one of the Navagaraha temples. This navagaraha are believed to have built by Rama, an avatar of Vishnu. |
| 3 | Saneeswarar Tirukkoil | Sani (Saturn) | Tirunaaraiyur a.k.a. Nachiarkoil (Tanjavur) | - | This temple is a part of the Sri Ramanathaswami Temple at Tirunaaraiyur. It is the only temple where Saneeswaran is worshipped along with his two wives Mandhadevi and Jyeshtadevi (also known as Neeladevi) and his two sons, Maandhi and Kuligan.[70] |
| 4 | Sri Vasishteswarar Temple | Guru (Jupiter) | Thenkudi Thittai (Tanjavur) | - | Sage Vasishtar is said to have worshipped Shiva in this temple. Brihaspati is worshipped as Guru Bhagavan from a separate shrine here, unlike in Alangudi where he is worshipped as Dakshinamurthi.[71] |
Chennai has its own set of Navagraha Temples located in and aroundKundrathur
For detailed write up on these temple refer to page onKundrathurAyyanarappan TemplesSri Porkilai, Sri Poorani Samedha Kaliyurayan Ayyanarappan Temple, Pillur, Villupuram, Tamil Nadu.Sri Ayyanarappan Temple, Kanniakoil, Cuddalore Road, Puducherry.
