Rishivandhiyam is a small Town located in Kallakurichi District close to Thiyagadurgam. Sri Ardhanareeswarar Temple is built amidst a residential locality away from the busy town. It is said that during the Vijayanagara Period the plants, weeds and trees were cleared by the farmers of those time. During that time one of the farmer struck the Idol with his spade and brought it out from Mother Earth. The tool mark made then is still seen as a deep scar on the Shiva Lingam even today. It is said that the Vijayanagara King had built this Temple is year 1441. Sri Arthanareeshwarar Temple has a multi pillared East facing Gopuram with several Divine Idols on top of it. Beyond this is a five tiered Rajagopuram facing East. There is a small Nandhi Vaahanam in a Sub Shrine built on top of four pillars. On entering the Temple just beneath the Rajagopuram there is a small Vinayagar Idol which is North facing and close to this is a West facing Idol fo Muneeswaran. Close to them the Idols of Raahu and Kethu are embossed on the wall. The Temple has a Neivedhya Peedam or Bali Peedam, a Dwajasthambam or Kodi Maram and a Nandhi Vaahanam facing the Moolasthanam. Within the Nandhi Mandapam there is a small East facing Idol of Vinayagar. To the right and left of the Dwajasthambam are two multi pillared Mandapam and all the pillars in it bears various Divine Idols. These two Mandapam have to be reached by a few steps and other than this, these two Mandapams are devoid of any Sub Shrines and are kept empty. In the Maha Mandapam there is a Sub Shrine before which two South facing Dwara Baalakas stand guard. In this Sub Shrine Sri Natarajar and His Consort Sivagami Ambal are seen South facing. There is an East facing Palliyarai and another East facing Sub Shrine in which three Vinayagar Idols are seen. Within the same Maha Mandapam there are West facing Idols of two Bhairavars, Suryan and Chandran.

The threshold of the East facing Moolasthanam has two huge Idols of Dwara Baalakas who stand guard. The Presiding Deity of this Temple is Sri Arthanareeshwarar who is East facing in the Sanctum Sanctorum. He is seen as a Swayambhu Lingam here and is considered as an incarnation of Lord Shiva. The Shiva Lingam of this Temple is known as Athisaya Lingam which means that it is a rare Shiva Lingam. The fact behind the Temple is that though it has been named as Sri Arthanarishwarar Temple, Devotees who come to Pray could see Him in the form of a Shiva Lingam. To view Him as Sri Arthanareeswarar He has to be anointed with Honey or in other words Devotees who perform Honey Abhishekam could view Him in His form as Sri Arthanareeswarar. The Mandapam before the Moolasthanam has several Urchavamoorthy Idols secured in a special enclosure. Around the Koshtam of the Moolavar there are Idols of Ganapathy, Dhakshinamoorthy, Lingothbhavar, Brahmma, Durgai and Chandikeshwarar. The Consort of Sri Arthanarishwarar is known as Sri Muthambigai who is none other than Goddess Parvathy. There are coloured Idols of two Dwara Baalakis who stand guard here. In the Ambal's East facing Shrine Sri Muthambikai is seen in a standing posture. Within the Ambal's Shrine there is an Idol of Gnana Vinayagar who is East facing and another huge Idol of Maha Vishnu who is North facing. In the multi pillared Mandapam of the Ambal there is a North facing Anjaneya Swamy Idol embossed in one of the lower half of the pillars. Opposite to this is the Navagraha Sannadhi. 

The outer peripheral of the Temple has pillared corridors and the 63 Nayanamaar Idol are kept North facing. The East facing Sub Shrine of Sani Bhagwan draws attention and many Devotees turn up here for Sani Dosha Parihaaram. There is an East facing Sub Shrine for Pillayar who is known as Selva Vinayagar. Close to this are few Naga Devatha Idols which are North facing. There are many Shiva Lingams and an Idol of Gajalakshmi which are East facing in the pillared corridor. At its extreme end is an East facing Sub Shrine of Valli Devasena Samedha Subramaniyar. The most important Sub Shrine of this Temple is that of Sri Arthanareeshwarar facing South. He is seen as a Male and Female form joined together. Half of it is Shiva while the other half is that of Goddess Parvathy. 

The Sthala Viruksham of this Temple are Magizha Maram & Punnai Maram and the Sacred Tank or Pushkarani are known as Agasthiyar Theertham, Indira Theertham, Gnana Bhoga Theertham, Agni Theertham and Shankara Theertham. The Sacred Tank of this Temple is located diagonally close to the Temple. In the third week of Tamil Karthigai Month 108 Sangabishekam is done to the Presiding Deity of Arthanareeswarar during which time the number of Devotees visiting this Temple goes up. Aani Brahmmothsavam, Pradosham, Sani Parihaara Pooja are done with great fanfare. The Moorthy, Sthalam and Theertham of this Temple are renowned and famous for. The Temple allows Hindu Marriages to be performed after scrutiny of all relevant documents. The Temple office functions within the Temple premises.

Contact Details: Archagar Mani 63800 10902, 90943 68541, 98653 69493, Kuppu Flower Shop 90432 64893 and 04151 289243 

Temple Timing: 6.30 AM to 12 Noon and 4.30 PM to 8 PM

Distance from Anthili to Rishivandiyam is 30 Kms

Distance from Arakandanallur to Rishivandiyam is 28 Kms

Distance from Adhi Thiruvarangam to Rishivandiyam is 28 Kms

Distance from Gramam to Rishivandiyam is 49 Kms

Distance from T.Edaiyar to Rishivandiyam is 38 Kms

Distance from Keezhaiyur to Rishivandiyam is 24 Kms

Distance from Thiruvennainallur to Rishivandiyam is 43 Kms

Distance from Thiruchengode to Rishivandiyam is 171 Kms

Distance from Cuddalore to Rishivandiyam is 98 Kms

Distance from Chidambaram to Rishivandiyam is 101 Kms

Distance from Sirkazhi to Rishivandiyam is 125 Kms

Distance from Neyveli to Rishivandiyam is 75 Kms

Distance from Panruti to Rishivandiyam is 73 Kms

Distance from Perambalur to Rishivandiyam is 92 Kms

Distance from Valikandapuram to Rishivandhiyam is 80 Kms

Distance from Kallakurichi to Rishivandhiyam is 21 Kms

Distance from Thirukovilur to Rishivandhiyam is 23 Kms

Distance from Thiruvamathur to Rishivandhiyam is 80 Kms

Distance from Thiruvannamalai to Rishivandhiyam is 55 Kms

Distance from  Arani to Rishivandiyam is 115 Kms

Distance from Vandavasi to Rishivandiyam is 129 Kms

Distance from Polur to Rishivandhiyam is 90 Kms

Distance from Cheyyar to Rishivandhiyam is 150 Kms

Distance from Kanchipuram to Rishivandhiyam is 171 Kms

Distance from Kaveripakkam to Rishivandhiyam is 160 Kms

Distance from Vellore to Rishivandhiyam is 140 Kms

Distance from Pallikonda to Rishivandhiyam is 156 Kms

Distance from Virinchipuram to Rishivandhiyam is 150 Kms

Distance from Ambur to Rishivandhiyam is 177 Kms

Distance from Yelagiri to Rishivandhiyam is 166 Kms

Distance from Chennai to Rishivandiyam is 243 Kms

Nearest Railway Station Thirukoilur R.S.

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