Puliarai is located in Shenkottai Taluk in Tenkasi District. The location of the Temple is picturesque and close to the Kerala Border on the Western Ghats. The full name of the Temple is Sri Sivagami Ambal Samedha Sri Sadasivamoorthy Temple but many refer it as Sri Dhakshinamoorthy Temple since the fame and name of Sri Dakshinamurthy has spread far and wide. Guru Dhakshinamoorthy Temple as it is often called is situated in the inner part of Puliyarai and Devotees coming by private vehicles have to pass through narrow lanes before reaching the Temple. This is an East facing Temple with a 3 tiered Rajagopuram. Before the Rajagopuram there is a small coloured Welcome Arch on top of which the Idols of Ambal, Shiva Lingam, Ganapathy and Murugan are seen flanked by two Nandhi Vaahanams. Sri Sadashivamoorthy Temple has two options to reach the Temple premises which is sligtly elevated. Devotees can choose to take the steps which are about 27 indicating the 27 Nakshathrams or Stars. Parallel to these steps they have erected a ramp which is much more easier to walk and could be of immense help to the weak and elderly. Half way through the ramp is a small East facing Sub Shrine. 

On crossing the Rajagopuram there is a West facing Sub Shrine of Sri Chandran and close to this is a South facing Sub Shrine of Sri Bhairavar. Apart from this there are four Idols pertaining to Maadan, Maadathi, Yatchyambal and all these four West facing Idols have four different Elephant Vaahanams before them. These four Idols are called as Parivaara Devathaigal. There is a Nandhi Vaahanam at the ground level which looks Westwards looking towards the Moolasthanam of Sri Sadasivamoorthy through the caged enclosure of Guru Dhakshinamoorthy. The caged enclosure of Sri Guru Dhakshinamoorthy has two coloured Images of Dwara Baalakas who are seen along with their Mace. The caged enclosure of Sri Dhakshinamoorthy is fully gold plated and looks glittering to the eyes of any onlookers. This Temple is totally different from that of other Shivan Temples since prime importance is given to Guru Dhakshinamurthy here. The Devotees visiting this Temple ought to Pray Guru Dhakshinamoorthy first and then proceed towards the Moolasthanam which is not so in other Shivan Temples. Even the location of Guru Dhakshinamurthy is of key importance. Usually in other Shivan Temples Sri Dhakshinamoorthy would be seen around the Koshtam of the Moolavar but not here. In His South facing Shrine Guru Dhakshinamoorthy is seen sitting on a podium Blessing His Devotees. Before His Divine Idol is a small elevated podium on top of which 9 Divine Flowers could be seen embossed. These 9 Flowers denotes the Navagrahams hence it is pertinenet to mention here that there is no exclusive Navagraha Sannadhi for this Temple and the Devotees have to Pray the Navagraham who are displayed here as 9 Divine Flowers. To the rear of Guru Dhakshinamoorthy's Shrine is a lovely and sparkling coloured Image of Himself which looks awesome when seen by the Devotees.

Beyond the Guru Dhakshinamoorthy's Shrine is the East facing Shrine of the Presiding Deity of Sri Sadasivamoorthy which is said to be more than 1000 years old. There are two Dwara Baalakas who stand guard on either side of the Moolasthanam. Beside the left Dwara Baalaka Idol is a small East facing Idol of Sri Ganapathy. In the Sanctum Sanctorum the Presiding Deity of Sri Sadasivamoorthy is seen East facing and in the form of a Swayambhu Shiva Lingam. He looks glittering when seen with the naturally lit oil lamps in His Moolasthanam. When seen with the Naagabharanam Sri Sadasivamurthy looks dazzling to the eyes of His Devotees. There is a small West facing Nandhi Vaahanam just before His Moolasthanam. Outside the Moolasthanam is a small South facing Sub Shrine of Sri Chandikeshwarar. The East facing Urchavamoorthy Sri Somaskandar Idol is also seen in an enclosure in the Moolasthana Mandapam. Likewise Sri Natarajar's Idol is seen along with Sri Sivagami Ambal in another South facing enclosure. This Temple has an East facing Shrine of Sri Sivagami Ambal. Though there are no Dwara Baalakis there is an East facing Idol of Sri Vinayagar to the left of Her threshold. Sri Sivagami Ambal is seen East facing in a standing posture ahe facing Her Shrine is a small Nandhi Vaahanam. 

The space between the Moolavar Sannadhi and the Ambal Sannadhi has been used to conduct Divine Rituals and to decorate the Palanquin of the Urchavamoorthy. The peripheral of the Temple has an East facing Sub Shrine of Sri Kanni Vinayagar and facing His Idol is a small Moonjur Vaahanam. A North facing Idol of Sri Juradevar is seen outside the Sub Shrine of Sri Kanni Vinayagar. In close proximity of Sri Kanni Vinayagar's Sub Shrine is another East facing Sub Shrine of Sri Sadasivamoorthy who is seen in the form of a Shiva Lingam and facing this Shiva Lingam is a small Nandhi Vaahanam. The Gopuram of this Sub Shrine has a coloured Idol of Sri Shivan seated on the Himalayas. Then there is an elevated podium on top of which a few East facing Naaga Devatha Idols are seen. Likewise the Temple has an East facing Sub Shrine of Sri Subramaniyar who is seen flanked with His Consorts Valli and Devasena. There is a South facing Sub Shrine of Sri Saneeswara Bhagwan. Beyond the Sub Shrine of Sri Saneeswara Bhagwan is a small rectangular podium on top of which miniature Idols of the Sapthamathas or Saptha Kannigaigal are seen along with those of Pancha Kannigaigal. 

The Story behind this Temple is that fearing Invasion the Idol of Sri Natarajar was brought from Chidambaram and hid in this Village in the hollow of a Tamarind Tree or Puliyamaram. Later it was taken back to Chidambaram. Meanwhile a Devotee who was Praying this Idol for a long time fealt its absence and started sobbing. On knowing his feelings the Deity of Sri Sadasivamoorthy came on its own to the hollow of a Puliya Maram which was later revived and brought out. Hence to this date it is revered as a Swayambhu Shiva Lingam and the place itself has been renamed as Puliyarai which in Tamil means the hollow of a Tamarind Tree or Puliya Maram. The Sthala Viruksham of the Temple is Puliya Maram or Tamarind Tree and the Pushkarani is known as Jagamaguda Theertham. The Pushkarani is located opposite to the Temple and beneath a Viruksham are the East facing Idols of Sri Ganapathy who is seen along with a Shiva Lingam and several other Naaga Devatha Idols. Every Thursday of a week this Temple attracts a lot of Devotees from far and near. Vinayagar Chathurthi, Aippasi Annabishegam, Arudhra Dharisanam, Masi Magam, Pradhosham, Navarathri, Theipirai Ashtami, Maha Shivarathiri are some of the festivals are celebrated in a grand manner. This is the only Temple of its kind in India where the Presiding Deity of Sri Sadhasivamoorthy, the Idol of Guru Dhakshinamoorthy and the Nandhi Vaahanam pertaining to the Moolavar are in a straight line. This Temple is considered as a Guru Parihaara Sthalam and also a Jaadhaga Dosha Nivarthi Sthalam.

Contact Details: Melshanthi Sekar 98430 63915, 04633 285518, 04633 285490 and Sri Devi Flower Shop 94421 21106.

Temple Timings: 7 AM to 12 Noon and 5 PM to 8 PM

Distance from Tenkasi to Puliyarai is 17 Kms

Distance from Shenkottai to Puliyarai is 9 Kms

Distance from Tirunelveli or Thirunelveli to Puliyarai is 82 Kms

Distance from Thiruppathisaram to Puliyarai is 137 Kms

Distance from Thiruvattaru to Puliyarai is 129 Kms

Distance from Thoothukudi or Tuticorin to Puliyarai is 127 Kms

Distance from Alwarthirunagari to Puliyarai is 109 Kms

Distance from Iratai Tirupathi to Puliyarai is 113 Kms

Distance from Athalanallur to Puliyarai is 59 Kms

Distance from Veeravanallur to Puliyarai is 62 Kms

Distance from Thiruvenkatanathapuram to Puliyarai is 72 Kms

Distance from Mannarkovil to Puliyarai is 46 Kms

Distance from Thirukkurungudi to Puliyarai is 94 Kms

Distance from Ariyankavu to Puliyarai is 9 Kms

Distance from Kollam to Puliyarai is 92 Kms

Distance from Thiruvananthapuram or Trivandrum to Puliyarai is 94 Kms

Distance from Sucheendram or Suchindram to Puliyarai is 144 Kms

Distance from Guruvayur to Puliyarai is 290 Kms

Distance from Thriprayar to Puliyarai is 268 Kms

Distance from Alathiyoor to Puliyarai is 314 Kms

Distance from Nattika to Puliyarai is 269 Kms

Distance from Varkala to Puliyarai is 90 Kms

Distance from Chelakkara to Puliyarai is 300 Kms

Distance from Kottayam to Puliyarai is 139 Kms

Distance from Alappuzha to Puliyarai is 140 Kms

Distance from Thirissur to Puliyarai is 263 Kms

Distance from Palakkad to Puliyarai is 319 Kms

Distance from Kanyakumari to Puliyarai is 146 Kms

Distance from Nagerkoil or Nagercoil to Puliyarai is 144 Kms

Distance from Srivilliputhur to Puliyarai is 93 Kms

Distance from Thiruthangal to Puliyarai is 113 Kms

Distance from Chennai to Puliyarai is 637 Kms

Nearest Railway Station is Shenkottai R.S.

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