Tirumanikkuli or Thirumanikuzhi is located close to Cuddalore Town. Some Devotees mention this Temple as Sri Vamaneeswarar Temple. This is a famous Thevara Paadal Petra Sthalam situated on the Banks of River Kedilam. The Temple is actually on a small hillock which is known as Rathnagiri or Jyothigiri in ancient Hindu Scripts. This is one of the oldest Temples to have been built during the time of the Cholas. This Temple is built facing East and has a five tiered Rajagopuram. There is a Dwajasthambam or Kodi Maram, Neivedhya Peedam or Bali Peedam and a Nandhi Vaahanam looking towards the Moolasthanam. Devotees willing to enter the Moolasthanam may have to enter through the South side entrance. On either side of the Moolasthanam there are Idols of Sri Bala Ganapathy and Sri Bala Murugan. The Presiding Deity in the Sanctum Sanctorum is known as Sri Vamanapureeswarar who is East facing and in the form of a short Swayambhu Shava Lingam atop a short Avudai. The Presiding Deity is also known as Sri Uthavinayagar and Manikavaradhar. Around the Koshtam the Idols of Vinayagar, Dhakshinamoorthy, Lingothbhavar, Maha Vishnu, Brahmma. Durgai Amman and Chandikeshwarar are seen. There is a separate Shrine for the Consort of this Temple who is known as Sri Ambujakshi Ambal. She is also affectionately called as Sri Uthavinayagi and Sri Manickavalli. Sri Ambujakshi Ambal is seen in Her East facing Shrine in a standing posture. Two Dwara Baalaki Idols stand guard before Her Shrine. Around the Ambal's Koshtam the Idols of Iccha Sakthi, Kiriya Sakthi and Gnana Sakthi are seen. There is a separate Dwajasthambam, a Neivedhya Peedam and a Simha Vaahanam facing the Shrine of Ambal.

In the inner peripheral there are Sub Shrines of 63 Naayanmaars, Sri Natarajar with Sivagami Ambal, Saptha Kannigaigal, Panchamurthis, Theraya Maharishi, Markandeya Maharishi, Thirunauvukkarasar, Moovar, Sattanathar, Bhairavar, Suryan and Chandran. There is a Navagraha Sannadhi in the inner peripheral. The outer peripheral has separate Sub Shrines for Sri Vinayagar and Valli Devasena Samedha Sri Subramaniyar. 

Rajadhi Raja Cholan, Vikrama Cholan, Kulothunga Cholan and Veera Rajendra Cholan had a big hand in developing this Temple. LIkewise King Konerimai Kondan of the Pandya Dynasty too promoted this Temple. This is the only Shiva Temple where a printed Bheema Rudhra and Ekadasa Rudhra are hung on either side before the Moolasthanam. It is the habit of the Temple Gurukkal to show the Aarthi to the two printed Rudhras and then to the Moolavar. It is also a habit of this Temple to call the Moolavar and the Ambal with a prefix Udhavi which means Help in Tamil. There is a general belief that Worshipping God Shiva here in this Temple for 2 minutes is equivalent to that of Worshipping Him in other Temple for 12 days, Worshipping God Shiva in Kasi 16 times and Worshipping Him in Thiruvannamalai in 3 times. The Sthala Viruksham is a Kondrai Maram and the Sacred Tank or Pushkarani are known as Kedilam and Swetha Theertham.

Contact Details: Nataraja Gurukkal 94863 87154, 81249 53447 and 04142 224328

Temple Timing: 7 AM to 11 AM and 4:30 PM to 8:30 PM

Distance from Chidambaram to Tirumanikuzhi is 45 Kms

Distance from Cuddalore to Thirumanikuzhi is 14 Kms

Distance from Panruti to Thirumanikuzhi is 16 Kms

Distance from Neyveli to Thirumanikuzhi is 46 Kms

Distance from Sirkali to Thirumanikuzhi is 69 Kms

Distance from Karaikal to Thirumanikuzhi is 113 Kms

Distance from Nagapattinam to Thirumanikuzhi is 132 Kms

Distance from Kumbakonam to Thirumanikuzhi is 117 Kms

Distance from Thirunageswaram to Tirumanikuzhi is 120 Kms

Distance from Thiruvidaimaruthur to Tirumanikuli is 114 Kms

Distance from Thirubuvanam to Tirumanikuli is 119 Kms

Distance from Srivanchiyam or Srivanjiyam to Tirumanikuli is 124 Kms

Distance from Nannilam to Tirumanikuzhi is 119 Kms

Distance from Virudhachalam to Tirumanikuzhi is 63 Kms

Distance from Valikandapuram to Tirumanikuzhi is 112 Kms

Distance from Thiyagadurgam to Tirumanikuzhi is 80 Kms

Distance from Marakkanam to Tirumanikuzhi is 67 Kms

Distance from Cheyyur to Tirumanikuzhi is 88 Kms

Distance from Maduranthankam to Tirumanikuzhi is 114 Kms

Distance from Acharapakkam to Tirumanikuzhi is 101 Kms

Distance from Vikravandi to Tirumanikuzhi is 46 Kms

Distance from Uthiramerur to Tirumanikuzhi is 129 Kms

Distance from Tindivanam to Tirumanikuzhi is 74 Kms

Distance from Pondicherry or Puducherry to Tirumanikuzhi is 32 Kms

Distance from Thanjavur to Tirumanikuzhi is 155 Kms

Distance from Tiruchirapalli or Trichy to Tirumanikuzhi is 177 Kms

Distance from Chennai to Tirumanikuzhi is 199 Kms

Nearest Railway Station is Cuddalore R.S.

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