Uthamanadaswamy Keeranur

Saivite Temples, Pudhukottai District

God

Uthamanadaswamy, facing east

Goddess

Brahadambal, facing south

Other Deities

To be updated

Uthamanadaswamy Keeranur is an ancient east facing temple with an immaculate 5 tiered Rajagopuram at the eastern entrance. There is a 16 Pillared Mantapa just outside the gopuram. The temple is known for its architectural and sculptural splendor. There is a large outer Prakaram and a smaller inner one around the Sanctum Sanctorum. A large temple tank is present north east of the temple.

Holy Water (Theertham) – Temple Tank

Sacred Tree (Sthala Vriksham) – No information

History

Uthamanadaswamy Keeranur Temple belongs to the ancient times and inscriptions belonging to the Chola and Vijayanagar periods are found here. The temple was built between end of 11th Century CE and beginning of 12th Century CE There is a Mutharaya edifice here. Mutharaiyars were feudatory chieftains of the Chola Kings. Stone inscriptions mention this place as Uthamanadapuram.

Legend

Wishes and requests told in the Nandi’s ears here at Uthamanadaswamy Keeranur are believed to reach Lord Shiva’s ears. Keeranur was also called as Sugapuri after a sage called Suga who is believed to have performed penance here. The arrow of a king out on hunt disturbed him and he is said to have ordered the king to build this temple.

Directions

Uthamanadaswamy Keeranur is about 25 kilometers south of Thiruchirapalli in the Pudukottai Road and about 23 kilometers before Pudukottai.

Stay and Food

None locally except tea shops. Closest are Thiruchirapalli and Pudukottai.