Thiruvarur is an important Temple Town and it is the District Head Quarters of Thiruvarur District. Sri Thyagaraaja Swamy Temple is an important landmark Temple of this District. In earlier times Thiruvarur was called as Kamalalayakshethram. This Temple is also called as Sapthavidanga Sthalam. In ancient times Thiruvarur had 11 various names such as 1) Kshethrapuram, 2) Aadakesurapuram, 3) Devayagapuram, 4) Musukundapuram, 5) Kalisela Nagaram, 6) Vaanmeeganathapuram, 7) Antharakesupuram, 8) Devasirayapuram, 9) Moolaatharapuram, 10) Samarakaarapuram and 11) Kamalalayapuram. 

The Presiding Deity of this Temple is known as Sri Thyagaraja Swami or Sri Putridankondar. His Consort here is known as Sri Kamalambika. This Temple covers a huge area measuring more than 8 hectares or 20 acres. This is an East facing Temple and the tallest Rajagopuram too is East facing with 9 tiers. In all there are 7 Rajagopurams in this Temple. It is believed that this Temple was built during the 9th century when Chola Kingdom prevailed. Some Historians believed that this Temple came into existence by Pallavas during the 7th century. 

There are two main Shrines of this Temple and they are known as Sri Vanmeeganathar and Sri Thiyagarajar. Around the Koshtam of the Moolasthanam are the Idols of Vinayagar, Dhakshinamoorthy, Brahmma and Durgai. The Consort Sri Kamalambikai Shrine is also an important one. The Ambal is seen in a sitting posture with four hands. The Kamalambal's Shrine itself looks like a Temple and this was added by the Rulers of the Vijayanagar Kingdom much later. There is a Dwajasthambam and a Neivedhya Peedam facing the Ambal's Shrine. There is a firm belief that the Idol of Sri Thiagaraja Swami was Created and Worshipped by Maha Vishnu Himself. The Thiyagarajar's Deity is an important one and His Dancing Style is called Ajaba Dance. The Moolavar is of Putru or Anthill and hence Abhishekam is never done to Moolavar. The Dwara Baalakas of this Temple look different from other Temples since they are made of Bronze and they look eye captivating. Facing the Moolasthanam is a tall Dwajasthambam beneath which an Idol of Kodimarathu Vinayagar is seen. Then there is a Neivedhya Peedam or Bali Peedam and a Nandhi Vaahanam. The Nandhi of this Temple is known as Brahmma Nandhi and Devotees coming to this Temple make it a habit to pour water around the tub since there is a belief that this would bring abundant rain. 

This is one rare Temple which has the maximum number of Sub Shrines in India. This Temple also has 365 Shiva Lingam in it which relates to Number of Days in a Year. Unlike other Temples this Temple does not have a solitary Chandikeshwarar but instead has two Chandikeshwarar Idols. The first Idol is known as Chandikeshwarar whereas the second Chandikeshwarar Idol is known as Yama Chandikeshwarar. There are Sub Shrines for Veedi Vidanga Vinayagar, Ucchista Vinayagar, Agasa Vinayagar, Varenshwara Vinayagar, Shanmugar, Bala Subramaniyar, Saraswathi, Durgai, Rowthra Duragai, Jurahareshwarar, Musukunda Chakravarthy, Dhaksheshwarar, Manuchakreshwarar, Bakeeratheshwarar, Kailasa Thiyagar, Pandinathar, Sapthamathas, Cheranathar, Vishwamithra Eshwarar, Mahabaleeshwarar, Arunachaleshwarar, Paroorvachakreshwarar, Varooneshwarar, Anandeshwarar etc. The Temple's inner peripheral has Sub Shrines of Sri Pradhosha Nayagar, Sri Chandrasekarar, Manickavasagar, Aigalakaasu Vinayagar, Soma Gujambikai, Mooladhara Ganapathy, Naalvar and the Sub Shrine of 63 Naayanmaars Urchava Idols. The Sub Shrine of Kozhukattai Vinayagar is very popular here. Another important aspect of this Temple is that the Navagraha Sannadhi are unusually kept in a straight line with the Navagrahams stand side by side.

This Temple has a wonderful sculpture representing the Manuneedhi Cholan who killed his Son to provide justice to a Cow which lost its Calf. The Idols of Manuneedhi Cholan, his Son, the Chariot and the Cow could still be seen. The Pushkaranis or Sacred Tanks are known as Kamalalaya Theertham, Moorthy Kinaru and the Sthala Viruksham of this Temple is known as Red Pathiri Maram. The Temple has a huge Temple Garden or Nandavanam. Vinayagar Chathurthi, Aippasi Annabishegam, Arudhra Dharisanam, Masi Magam, Pradhosham, Navarathri, Maha Shivarathiri are some of the festivals are celebrated in a grand manner. This Temple has one of the biggest Temple Chariot and when the Chariot is run around the four main streets of the Temple several lakhs of Devotees attend. The name of the Temple's Chariot is Azhi Ther and its parts are maintained and looked after by BHEL Trichy.

Contact Details: 04366 242343

Temple Timing: 5 AM to 12 Noon and 4 PM to 9 PM

Distance from Srivanchiyam or Srivanjiyam to Tiruvarur is 16 Kms

Distance from Thirubuvanam to Tiruvarur is 54 Kms

Distance from Nannilam to Tiruvarur is 16 Kms

Distance from Thiruveezhimizhalai to Tiruvarur is 30 Kms

Distance from Thirupampuram to Tiruvarur is 31 Kms

Distance from Thirunageswaram to Tiruvarur is 39 Kms

Distance from Gangaikonda Cholapuram to Tiruvarur is 81 Kms

Distance from Thanjavur to Tiruvarur is 60 Kms

Distance from Kumbakonam to Tiruvarur is 48 Kms

Distance from Orthanadu to Tiruvarur is 61 Kms

Distance from Papanasam, Kumbakonam to Tiruvarur is 61 Kms

Distance from Thiruppurambiyam to Tiruvarur is 57 Kms

Distance from Thirumangalakkudi to Tiruvarur is 43 Kms

Distance from Thiruneelagudi to Tiruvarur is 38 Kms

Distance from Thiruvisanallur to Tiruvarur is 55 Kms

Distance from Thiruppanandal to Tiruvarur is 65 Kms

Distance from Thiruvidaimaruthur to Tiruvarur is 28 Kms

Distance from Thiruvamathur to Tiruvarur is 177 Kms

Distance from Thiruchengode to Tiruvarur is 232 Kms

Distance from Annamputhur to Tiruvarur is 189 Kms

Distance from Maduranthankam to Tiruvarur is 233 Kms

Distance from Kanchipuram to Tiruvarur is 277 Kms

Distance from Valikandapuram to Tiruvarur is 141 Kms

Distance from Tiruchirapalli or Trichy to Tiruvarur is 114 Kms

Distance from Vaitheeswaran Koil to Tiruvarur is 55 Kms

Distance from Mayavaram or Mayiladuthurai to Tiruvarur is 41 Kms

Distance from Thilatharpanapuri or Seethalapathy to Tiruvarur is 23 Kms

Distance from Avudaiyarkoil to Tiruvarur is 126 Kms

Distance from Madurai to Tiruvarur is 242 Kms

Distance from Chennai to Tiruvarur is 319 Kms

Nearest Railway Station is Thiruvarur R.S.

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