Thiruvetkalam

Paadal Petra Sthalams – Cuddalore District

God

Pasupadeswarar (also Pasupadanadar), facing east

Goddess

Nallanayagi (also Sargunambal), facing south

Other Deities

Sanctum niches – Uchi Vinayaka, Narthana Ganapati, Dakshinamurthy, Lingotbavar, Brahma, Chandikeswara.

Sidhdhi Vinayagar, Somaskanda, Naalvar, Chokkanadar, Meenakshi, Muruga, Mahalakshmi, Nalvar, Navagraha, Chandran, Surya, Nataraja, Arjuna, Bhairava

Thiruvetkalam is an east facing temple with a 3 tier Rajagopuram and a large temple tank opposite. A Nagavalli Tree (canon ball tree – Couroupita guianensis) is also seen in the front. The place used to be a Bamboo forest in ancient times. Thirugnanasambandar stayed here for some days and went everyday to worship in the Chidambaram temple. There are beautiful carvings of Shiva and Parvati with dogs coming in the guise of hunters, Arjuna fighting and more in the Mantapa. Processional Idols of the Lord and Arjuna are said to have been recovered from the pond.

Holy Water (Theertham) – Kripakadaksha Theertham (temple tank)

Sacred Tree (Sthala Vriksham) – Bamboo (Bambusa sps)

History

Thirugnanasambandar and Thirunavukkarasar (7th-8th Century CE) have rendered Thevaram hymns for the lord here at Thiruvetkalam. Stone inscriptions of the temple history is also found here at Thiruvetkalam.

Legend

Arjuna is believed to have received his Pasupada Weapon from the Lord here at Thiruvetkalam. Sage Narada is said to have worshiped here at Thiruvetkalam.

Directions

Thiruvetkalam is inside the Annamalai University campus in Chidambaram.

Stay and Food

Chidambaram has several good places to stay and eat. Sri Krishna Bhavan in the west side of the Nataraja Temple is good and popular.

Padal Petra Sthalams