Famous Holy Places & Temples

Navagraha Temples

The 9 planets surrounding our earth are called as Navagrahas and are believed to be the transmitters of universal, quintessential energy (or) power. The navagrahas are closely associated with the fixed stars in the Zodiac.

As human beings cannot get the vision of these planets but can worship them in the form of deities. These 9 planet's deities' temples are located in Tanjore, Tiruvarur and Nagapattinam districts of Tamilnadu.

Those who have setbacks and troubles in their life may visit to these temples for performing remedy poojas and they will get all health & wealth with the blessings of these Navagrahas (9 planets).

Nagore (Dharga)

Nagore Dargah or Hazrat Syed Shahul Hameed Dargah) is a dargah built over the tomb of the saint Hazrath Nagore Shahul Hamid (1490–1579 CE). It is located in Nagore, a coastal town in the Nagappattinam District of Tamil Nadu.

Shahul Hamid is believed to have performed many miracles in Nagore, and cured the physical affliction of king Achutappa Nayak, a 16th-century Hindu ruler of Thanjavur. He is locally referred to as Nagore Andavar, meaning the "god of Nagore".

Nagore dargah is believed to have been built by ardent devotees of Shahul Hamid, with major contribution from Hindus. Th is a major pilgrimage centre that attracts pilgrims from both Islam and Hinduism, symbolizing peaceful coexistence between the two religions.

The Shifa Gunta, a pool within the dargah, is considered sacred where pilgrims take a holy dip in it.

Velankanni (Annai Mary Matha Church)

Our Lady of Good Health also known as Our Lady of Vailankanni, is a celebrated Catholic title of the Blessed Virgin Mary believed to have appeared in Velankanni Town, Tamil Nadu, India.

The Basilica of Our Lady of Good Health erected by the Portuguese and the Indians stands at this site. The iconic depiction of the Madonna is unique in that it is one of two only icons where Mary is portrayed wearing an Indian Sari, while the other statue is said to have been buried with Aurangzeb, the Mughal Emperor. The basilica is known as a site for pilgrims from all over India and its assembly of multilingual prayers every Christmas.

Gangaikonda Cholapuram (Famous Shiva Temple)

The city “Gangaikonda Cholapuram” was founded by Rajendra Chola to commemorate his victory over the Pala Dynasty. The name means The town of the chola who took over Ganga (water from Ganga) or who defeated (the kings near) Ganga. It is now a small village, its past eminence only remembered by the existence of the great Siva Temple.

The great temple of Brihadeeswarar Temple at this place is next only to the Brihadisvara temple at Thanjavur in its monumental nature and surpasses it in sculptural quality.

Thirupungoor (Famous Shiva Temple)

Sri Sivalokanathar Temple is a Shiva temple in the village of Tirupunkur or Thirupunkur which lies about 3 miles west of Vaitheeswaran Koil in the District of Nagapattinam. The temple is associated with the legend of the Saivite saint Nandanar who was one of the 63 Nayanmars. While being a Dalit, Nandanar was not allowed inside the temple, the idol of Nandi within the temple precincts moved a few inches at the command of Shiva so as not to obstruct Nandanar's view from the gate of the shrine.

Thiruvali - Thirunagiri (Vishnu Temples)

Thiruvali - Thirunagari Temples are paired Hindu temples dedicated to Lord Vishnu located 10 km away from Sirkali, Tamil Nadu, India and 5 km away from each other. It is one of the "Divya Desams", the 108 temples of Vishnu revered by the 12 poet saints, or Alwars. Unlike other Divyadesams where a single shrine is referred, this pair of temples is referred together in all the 41 paasurams (poems).

The Thirumangai Alvar Mangalasasana utsavam (festival) in the month of Thai (Jan-Feb) witnesses 11 Garudasevai a spectacular event in which festival images idols from the 11 Thirunaangur Divyadesam shrines in the area are brought on Garuda mounts to Thirunangur. An idol of Thirumangai Alvar is also brought from this temple on a Hamsa Vahanam (palaquin) and his paasurams (verses) dedicated to each of these 11 temples are recited.

Karaikal (Ammaiyar Temple)

Karaikal Ammaiyar Temple is a Hindu Tamil temple dedicated to the goddess Punithavathi. It is located on Bharathiar Street, in the center of Karaikal, India. Ammaiyar or Goddess Punithavathi is one of the renowned goddess in Karaikal.

The temple was constructed by Malaiperumal Pillai in 1929. The main goddess is Punithavati, also known as Karaikkal Ammaiyar. There is also a sanctum for Vinayaka inside this temple. Karaikal Ammaiyar is one of the 63 Nayanmars.

Thirukadaiyur (Amirthakadeswarar – Abirami Temple)

Amritaghateswarar Abhirami Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to the God Shiva in his manifestation as "Destroyer of Death" and his wife Parvati in her form as Abhirami located in Thirukkadaiyur (Thirukadavur), 21 km East of Mayiladuthurai, Tamil Nadu in India. This temple is particularly associated with Shiva saving his young devotee, Markendeya from death, and the tale of a saint, Abirami Pattar a devotee of the presiding goddess.

It is one of the 275 Paadal Petra Sthalams, where three of the most revered Nayanars (Saivite Saints), Appar, Suntharar and Tirugnana Sambhandar have sung the glories of this temple.

There is a separate shrine dedicated to Abhirami. The Shakta saint Abhirami Pattar is believed to have rendered the Abhirami Anthathi in the front hall of the shrine. The temple also maintains a separate shrine for Markandeya worshipping Kalasamhara Murti.

Ananthamangalam (Aanjaneya Temple)

Ananthamangalam Anjaneya temple is located in the East Coast Road in between Chidambaram and Karaikal in Tamilnadu, India. Anjaneya temple is facing towards east. The Uthswar is inside the temple. Opposite to this temple the Three Nethra Chathurbuja Veera Anjaneyar Moolava Sannathis is situated outside this temple.

Anjenayar has God Face with 3 eyes. His 10 hands holds with Conch (Sangu), Chakram, Soolam, Kabalam, Madhatchagam, Pasamankusam, Bow, Arrow, Sattai, Navaneetham and has two feathers in both side.

Olugaimangalam (Maariamman Temple)

Mother Mari Amman is a swayambumurthi found from a place where a cow was pouring milk, 1500 years ago. The place is also known as Ozhugai Mangalam – Ozhugai means milk pouring in this context.

People use to dissolve pepper, sugar and salt in the temple tank so that some boils in the body and worries in mind also would be dissolved and pure health restored. People tie yellow thread in the Neem tree of the temple for wedding boon and tie cradles for child boon. People pray here for harmony among couples, re-union of families after separation, for family prosperity and welfare of future generations.

Ayyavaadi (Prathyangara Devi Temple)

This temple for Sri Maha Prathyangira Devi is situated in a small village called Ayyavadi around 6 kms from Kumbakonam.

Lord Vishnu took the Narasimha Avatar to kill the demon king Hiranyakasipu who is the father of Prahalada. After being so furiously fought with so much of power to kill the king, the anger and the fierce of Narasimha didnt come down. People prayed Lord Shiva to save them.

Lord Shiva took a new and more powerful form or Avatar as Sarabeswara, with lion's face and eagle's wings. Shakthi accompanied Lord Shiva in the form of Sri Mahaprathyangira Devi seated on one of the wings of Sri Sarabeswara. Sarabeswarar went and subsided Narasimha's anger to bring back peace. Hence both Sri Mahaprathyangira Devi and Sri Sarabeswara are beleived to be more powerful than any other powers.

Thirukarukavur (Garbaratchambigai Temple)

Sri Garbarakshambigai Amman temple is situated in Thirukarukavur (Thirukkarugavur), a small village in Thanjavur district, Tamil Nadu, South India. Appar, Sundarar and Sambandhar, the three famous Nayanmaars have celebrated the glory of this temple in soul stirring verses.

The remarkable feature which distinguishes this temple from the other shrines is that, Goddess Sri Garbarakshambigai Amman here cures infertility related problems to women, blesses them to conceive and also helps them for safe and trouble free delivery. Sri Mullaivananathar swamy is worshipped for better health and well being.

Thirupparankundram (Murugan Temple)

Tirupparankundram, a hill eight kilometers southwest of Madurai, is the first of Six Holy Abodes (literally: 'battle camps') of Muruga. The temple offers a mystic beauty; is carved in rock and is monstrous in size for such an architecture. According to the legend it is where Murugan married Deivayanai, the divine daughter of the king of heaven, Indra. This cave temple dedicated to the element of earth and mentioned in various classical Tamil texts as the 'Southern Himalaya' where the gods assemble, Tirupparankunram is also mentioned in legend as 'the place where the sun and moon abide'.

Besides the temple to Murugan, there is also a Muslim shrine dedicated to 'Sekunder' (al-Sikandar or Alexander the Great) who is associated with Murukan by the Muslim pilgrims. "Sikandar was a friend of Murugan at the time when Murugan was King here," they say.

Thiruchendur (Murugan Temple)

Thiruchendur Murugan temple is known as the second Arupadai Veedu of Lord Muruga. Lord Muruga won the battle with the asura, Surapadma and worshipped Lord Shiva in this sacred place. The temple is situated along the shores of the Bay of Bengal.

Normally, the Raja Gopuram will be in the eastern side of temples in Tamil Nadu. But in Thiruchendur alone the Raja Gopuram is in the western side. It is said that the Raja Gopuram was not erected on the eastern side since the sea is very close in the eastern side.

It is one of the largest temple complexes of India and it is one of the most visited temple complex in India. This temple is the fourth Hindu temple in Tamil Nadu to get ISO certification.

Palani (Murugan Temple)

Palani Arulmigu Shri Dhandayuthapani temple is the third of the Six Abodes of Murugan. It is located in the town of Palani in Dindigul, 100 kilometres (62 mi) southeast of Coimbatore and northwest of Madurai in the foot-hills of the Palani hills, Tamil Nadu. Thai Poosam and Panguni Uthiram festivals are very famous festivals and large number of devotees coming here at that time.

The idol of the Muruga in Palani was created and consecrated by sage Bogar, one of Hinduism's eighteen great siddhas, out of an amalgam of nine poisons or navapashanam. Other than the steps and sliding elephant way, there is a winch and rope car used to transport devotees uphill.

As of 2016, the temple was the richest among temples in the state with a collection of 33 crore during the period of July 2015 to June 2016.

Swamimalai (Murugan Temple)

Swamimalai is the fourth of the Six Abodes of Murugan. It is located 5 km from Kumbakonam on the banks of a tributary of river Cauvery. The shrine of the presiding deity, Swaminathaswamy is located atop a 60 ft (18 m) hillock and the shrine of his mother Meenakshi (Parvathi) and father Shiva (Sundareswarar) is located downhill.

As per Hindu legend, Muruga, the son of Shiva, extolled the meaning of the Pranava Mantra (Hindi: ॐ AUM) to his father at this place and hence attained the name Swaminathaswamy. The temple has three gopuram (gateway towers) and three precincts. Out of the three precincts, one is located in the basement, the second at midway to the top of the hillock and the third on the hillock, around the sanctum of the Swaminathaswamy shrine. There are sixty steps and each one is named after the sixty Tamil years.

Thiruthani (Murugan Temple)

Thiruthani Murugan temple is the fifth temple of the Six Abodes of Murugan, on the hill of Thiruttani, Tamil Nadu. The hill has 365 steps indicating 365 days of the year. It is one of the Arupadaiveedu, the six holy abodes of Lord Muruga.

Lord Rama, after putting an end to Ravana, worshipped Lord Siva at Rameswaram and then came to Tiruttani to find perfect peace of mind by worshipping Lord Subrahmanya here. In Dwapara Yuga, Arjuna got the blessings of our Lord here by offering prayers to Him on his way to the South for Teertha Yatra (pilgrimage to take sacred immersion).

Pazhamudircholai (Murugan Temple)

Pazhamudircholai Murugan Temple is a Hindu temple, located about 25 kilometres north of Madurai, India atop a hill covered with dense forests. One of the six important abodes (Arupadaiveedu) of Lord Muruga, it is close to the Vishnu temple of Azhagar Kovil.

Pazhamudircholai is a fertile hill, blessed with Nature's bounty in the form of innumerable fruits, vegetables and natural springs. The temple itself is relatively small with Valli, Deivayanai, and Lord Muruga in a separate shrine. Lord Ganesha is also present in a separate shrine. There is a Temple Tower and monkeys play around the area. There is another small temple above Pazhamudhir Cholai where local tribes lead their lives.

Trichy Ucchi Pillayar Koil

Ucchi Pillayar Koil is a 7th-century Hindu temple, one dedicated to Lord Ganesh located a top of Rockfort, Trichy, Tamil Nadu.

The temple is situated at the top of the rock. The temple is mystic in its nature with an inspiring rock architecture. The Ganesh temple is much smaller with an access through steep steps carved on the rock and provides a stunning view of Trichy, Srirangam and the rivers Kaveri and Kollidam. Due to its ancient and impressive architecture created by the Pallavas, the temple is maintained by the Archaeological department of India.

According to Hindu legend, a pregnant woman named Rathnavathi was an ardent devotee of Shiva and he arrived in the form of her mother to attend to her delivery. The presiding deity is thus named Thayumanasway, the one who acted as mother.

Samayapuram Mariamman Temple

Samayapuram Mariamman Temple is a Hindu temple in Samayapuram near Tiruchirappalli in Tamil Nadu. The main deity, Samayapurathal or Mariamman is made of sand and clay like many of the traditional Mariamman deities, and hence unlike many other Hindu deities there are no abhishekams (sacred washing) conducted to the main deity, but instead the "abishekam" is done to the small stone statue in front of it.

It is believed by the devotees that the Goddess has enormous powers over curing illnesses[1] and hence, it is a ritual to buy small metallic replicas, made with silver or steel, of various body parts that need to be cured, and these are deposited in the donation box.

The temple attracts thousands of devotees on Sundays, Tuesdays and Fridays, the holy days for Mariamman. Samayapuram is the second most wealthy (in terms of cash flows) temple in Tamil Nadu after Palani.

Tanjore Bragatheeswarar Temple

Peruvudaiyar Kovil (locally known as "Thanjai Periya Kovil") is a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva located in Thanjavur, Tamilnadu.

It is one of the largest temples in India and is an example of Tamil architecture during the Chola period. The temple is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site known as the "Great Living Chola Temples".

The vimanam (temple tower) is 198 ft (60 m) high and is one of the tallest in the world. The Kumbam (the apex or the bulbous structure on the top) weighs around 80 tons. There is a big statue of Nandi (sacred bull), carved out of a single rock measuring about 16 ft (4.9 m) long and 13 ft (4.0 m) high at the entrance. The entire temple structure is made out of granite, the nearest sources of which are about 60 km to the west of temple. The temple is one of the most visited tourist attractions in Tamil Nadu.

Nachiyar Koil

Nachiar Kovil is in Thirunarayur, a village in the outskirts of Kumbakonam in Tamil Nadu, is dedicated to the Hindu god Vishnu and his wife Lakshmi.

It is one of the 108 Divyadesam dedicated to Vishnu, who is worshipped as Srinivasa Perumal and his consort Lakshmi as Nachiyar. The temple is the place where god Vishnu is believed to have initiated Pancha Samskara (religious initiation) to Thirumangai Azhwar. The temple follows Thenkalai mode of worship.

Kal Garuda, an image of Vishnu's mount - Garuda, is the most prominent feature of the temple. The image of Kal Garuda is made of saligrama and is housed in the shrine outside the main sanctum. During festive procession during the Tamil months of Margazhi (December–January) and Panguni (March - April), the festive images are carried out in procession in Kal Garudar. While only four people are needed to carry the idol of Garuda out of the shrine, it multiples to 8, 16, 32, 64 and 128 people when the image is taken outside the temple. The weight of the idol remains the same when carried by 4 people and stays the same when carried outside by 128. Only supernatural force is acting on that idol when 4 people carry, if we replicate the same idol somewhere else, 128 people are required to lift. On the way back only 4 people are required to carry the float in the decreasing order 128, 64, 32, 16, 8, 4. The aspect is treated magical as drops of sweat are also observed on the image of Kal Garuda during the six-hour-long procession.

Uppiliappan Temple

Uppiliappan Temple, also known as Thiruvinnagar of Venkatachalapathy Temple is a temple dedicated to Hindu god Vishnu, located near Thirunageswaram, a village in the outskirts of the Kumbakonam in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu. The temple is one of the most visited temples in the district.

Uppiliappan is considered the elder brother of the presiding deity of Tirupathi Venkateshwara Temple. The temple is classified as a divyadesam, the 108 Vishnu temples that are revered in the Vaishnava canon. Saint Namaazhwar called him "Thannoppaarillappan", that is he who has no comparison, meaning there is neither an equivalent nor superior to Vishnu. He mentions that "the Lord who by his powers affords solace for pining hearts, and renders them fit for service".

As per the legend, the temple Neyvethiyam (food offering in the temple) is always prepared without salt in the food.

Madurai Meenakshi Amman Temple

Meenakshi Amman Temple is a historic Hindu temple located on the southern bank of the Vaigai River in the temple city of Madurai, Tamil Nadu. Madurai, the second largest city in Tamil Nadu and one of the state's top destinations, is more than 3,500 years old and has remained a major center for Tamil culture and learning.

Meenakshi Amman temple is dedicated to Parvati, known as Meenakshi, and her consort, Shiva, here named Sundareswarar. It was on the list of top 30 nominees for the "New Seven Wonders of the World". The temple is the most prominent landmark and most visited tourist attraction in the city. The temple complex covers 15 acres, and has 4,500 pillars and 12 towers. The annual 10-day Meenakshi Tirukalyanam festival, celebrated during April and May, attracts 1 million visitors.

The name "Mīnachchi" means fish-eyed and is derived from the words "mīna" meaning fish and "akṣi" meaning eyes. The goddess Meenakshi is the principal deity of the temple, not Sundareswarar, unlike most Shiva temples in South India where Shiva is the principal deity.

Mayiladuthurai Mayuranathaswami Temple

The Mayuranathaswami Temple is a Hindu temple in the town of Mayiladuthurai (formerly known as Mayavaram or Mayuram) in the Nagapattinam District of Tamil Nadu is dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva and has given its name to the town itself.

The main icon is a swayambhu lingam or a self-manifested lingam, and is called Mayuranathar because the Hindu goddess Parvathi worshipped Shiva here in the form of a mayura.

On the day of the new moon in the Tamil month of Aippasi (November–December), religious Hindus have a ceremonial bath in the temple tank as it is believed to purify them from sins. An annual dance festival called the Mayura Natyanjali festival is celebrated within the precincts of the temple each year.

Koothanur Saraswathi Devi Temple

A temple for Saraswati, the Hindu goddess of learning is situated in Koothanur, a town situated in the Tiruvarur district of Tamil Nadu, India. Saraswati is considered as the goddess of knowledge so people believe that if they worship this deity they will become good in knowledge.

Koothanur is the only temple in Tamil Nadu for the goddess Saraswati. Vijayadhasami festival is celebrated in Koothanur which is one of the most important festivals in this temple. It is one of the important tourist spots of Tamilnadu.

Koothanur is the birthplace of the Tamil poet Ottakoothar. There is another reason for the name of this place which is King Rajaraja Cholan gifted this village for koothan's poem because he is a great poet. So this village is called Koothan + oor =Koothanur. In India, Koothanur became an important tourist spot.