Sri Athmanatha Swami Temple is located in a busy market place in Avudaiyarkoil which was formerly known as Thiruperunthurai. The full name of the Temple is Sri Yogambal Samedha Sri Aathmanatha Swamy Temple. On entering Devotees can find a Monkey and a Monitor Lizard Idol which indirectly implies that a Devotee's mind must not be jumping from here to there like a Monkey but ought to stick on steadfast like a Monitor Lizard. In one of these Mandapams there are two Idols of Rana Veerabadrar and Agora Veerabadrar who are North facing towards the Moolasthanam. This Temple is a South facing Temple and there is a nine tiered Rajagopuram which is almost invisible from outside since there is another Mandapam blocking the main Rajagopuram making it look inconspicuous. Beyond it are innumerable Mandapams which have several intricately designed pillars making it a feast to the eyes of the Devotees viewing it. Even the ceiling of this Temple looks exquisite and would keep the Devotees spell bound. It is said that this Temple is around 1300 Years old and it was Saint Manikavasagar who established this Temple during the Pandya Regime since Saint Manikavasagar was a Minister then in the Pandya Kingdom under King Arimarthana Pandiyan. Hence it is no wonder that Saint Manikavasagar had sung in praise of this Temple. In other words Saint Manikavasagar had written Thiruvasagam in this Temple. There are Idols of Saint Manikavasagar and Minister Manikavasagar in this Temple. On the way to the Moolasthanam there are two Idols of Ganapathy and close to them are two wonderfully sculpted stone lamps. There is an exclusive Sub Shrine for Saint Manikavasagar. In the South facing Moolasthanam there is no Idol or Image bur instead the Shrine is dark and gloomy and it is perceived that the Aathma or Soul takes precedence over Idol or Images or in other words it can be said that this Temple gains importance since there is Idol - less Worship. In the Moolasthanam Sri Aathamanatha Swamy is seen as Jyothi Vadivam. There are 27 lighted lamps which denotes the 27 Stars or Nakshathrams. Apart from this there are White, Red and Green colour lights to the rear of the Moolasthanam which denotes Suryan, Chandran and Agni. Some refer these three coloured lights as that of Lord Shiva. Before the Moolasthanam is a Square and elevated podium on which Hot and Steaming Cooked Rice is poured in honour of Sri Aathmanatha Swami. The Steam emanating from the Hot Cooked Rice is refered as Aavi in Tamil and hence the name Aavi Udayar. This is one form of Neivedhyam from among the 14 types of Neivedhyam offered here. The Temple is unique from other Shiva Temples since there is no Dwajasthamabam, Neivedhya Peedam or a usual Nandhi Vaahanam facing the Sanctum Sanctorum. The Ambal is known here as Sri Yogambal  and She too is formless like Sri Aathmanatha Swami. The Shrine of Sri Yogambal is South facing and when the Devotees view Her through a grilled enclosure only Her Divine Feet could be seen and Prayed. This is the architectural beauty of the Temple. The other stunning fact of this Temple is that there is no Dhakshinamoorthy Sub Shrine and the Urchavamoorthies too are not found here. There is a Kurunthai Tree close to which the latest Manikavasagar Idol has been installed. It is believed that if Devotees close their eyes by standing before this Idol and think of their Wish and on opening the eyes and seeing Manikavasagar, their dreams would come true. The articles used by Saint Manickavasagar then are still preserved here for posterity. The ceiling of one of the entrances bears the 27 Images of Stars etched on them. This Temple has many features to it and one of them is that instead of using Iron Nuts and Bolts they had used Stone Nuts and Bolts which is almost an Architectural Wonder. Most Shiva Temples have a Navagraha enclosure mounted on a podium but here instead of the conservative way each Navagraha Idol is embossed on the base of the pillars. In the out most peripheral there are three Idols of Vinayagar and they are known as Veyilukkukandha Vinayagar. Close to this is a huge Pushkarani or Sacred Tank is known as Agni Theertham. The Temple has a religious library known as Saraswathi Mahal Pandaara Noolagam. This Temple has two Chariots or Temple Car which are parked on either side of the Temple. This Temple is under the control of Thiruvaduthurai Aadheenam. The busy location of the Temple hampers the Devotees to park their vehicles anywhere close to the Temple. 

Contact Details: Aathmanathan, Devasthana Archanai Shop 99448 13441, Ramanatha Iyer 89737 58018, 04371 233301, 82484 15553, Ravichandran Flower Shop 76393 80412

Temple Timing: 7 AM to 1 PM and 4 PM to 8 PM 

Distance from Aranthangi to Avudaiyarkoil is 14 Kms

Distance from Marungapallam to Avudaiyarkoil is 46 Kms

Distance from Peravurani to Avudaiyarkoil is 36 Kms

Distance from Karaikudi to Avudaiyarkoil is 40 Kms

Distance from Tiruppaththur to Avudaiyarkoil is 61 Kms

Distance from Pudukkottai to Avudaiyarkoil is 49 Kms

Distance from Alangudi to Avudaiyarkoil is 39 Kms

Distance from Madurai to Avudaiyarkoil is 128 Kms

Distance from Tiruchirapalli to Avudaiyarkoil is 105 Kms

Distance from Thanjavur to Avudaiyarkoil is 96 Kms

Distance from Devakottai to Avudaiyarkoil is 39 Kms

Distance from Peruvayal to Avudaiyarkoil is 88 Kms

Distance from Rameswaram to Avudaiyarkoil is 147 Kms

Distance from Thirunageswaram to Avudaiyarkoil is 143 Kms

Distance from Kumbakonam to Avudaiyarkoil is 134 Kms

Distance from Mayiladuthurai to Avudaiyarkoil is 170 Kms

Distance from Sirkali to Avudaiyarkoil is 190 Kms

Distance from Vaitheeswaran Koil to Avudaiyarkoil is 182 Kms

Distance from Thirukadaiyur to Avudaiyarkoil is 177 Kms

Distance from Srivanchiyam to Avudaiyarkoil is 131 Kms

Distance from Thirubuvanam to Avudaiyarkoil is 142 Kms

Distance from Chennai to Avudaiyarkoil is 429 Kms

Nearest Railway Station is Aranthangi R.S

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