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  Velangudi is the smallest clan temple connected to the Chettiar community. It’s in the Sivaganga district, close to Karaikudi. The temple is known as a “Vaippu Sthalam,” which means it was mentioned in a song by the saint Appar. There’s a story about King Pari, who was out hunting. He saw a hare run into a hole, which was unusual. Curious, he told his men to dig there. As they dug, they heard a metallic sound and found a statue of a goddess. She was named Kamatchi Amman. Another god, Sandeeswarar, was later brought from a place called Pallathur and placed in the temple. The Velangudi temple is known for its detailed carvings, statues, and a tall temple tower called a gopuram. In most Shiva temples, five idols (called Pancha Moorthis) are taken out during processions: Shiva, Parvathi, Vinayagar, Murugan, and Chandikeswarar. But in Velangudi, Bairava is used instead of Chandikeswarar, because Bairava is more important to the people there. One special thing about this clan is ...

  Vairavanpatti is a village located about 13 kilometers from Karaikudi in Sivaganga District, on the Karaikudi-Thiruppathur Road. It is also 2 kilometers away from Pillayarpatti, a well-known temple village. Vairavanpatti is home to one of the nine clan temples of the Chettiyars, called the Vairavar Temple. The main deities here are Lord Valaroli Nathar and Vadivudi Amman. The village is named after Lord Bhairava, and it was once called Vadakkunathapuram. The temple celebrates several festivals, including Champakasura Chathurthi, Vinayaka Chathurthi, and Pillayar Nonbu. The temple has a beautiful five-tier Rajagopuram. Devotees visit to pray for freedom from enemies and relief from the negative effects of planetary alignments. In the temple, a depiction of Lord Rama worshipping is seen, where Hanuman brought news of Sita’s safety. Lord Bhairava has a separate shrine, and a spring created by him is located outside the temple. Those who take a dip in this spring and pray are bel...

  Thirumayam Fort, built in 1687 by Vija Ragunatha Sethupathi, the Raja of Ramnad, spans about 40 acres. The fort features shrines dedicated to Lord Hanuman, Goddess Sakthi, Lord Ganapathi, and Karuppar, as well as two rock-cut temples — one dedicated to Lord Shiva and the other to Lord Vishnu. The fort was later handed over to the Raja of Pudukkottai, Ragunatha Raya Thondaimaan, and post-independence, it was taken over by the Archaeological Survey of India. On the fort's peak, a British-origin cannon stands, and six additional cannons are mounted at the gates. A beautifully constructed octagonal pond adds to the fort's charm. Situated in Tamil Nadu, this 17th-century marvel offers a glimpse into its rich heritage and valor, with panoramic views from its heights. The fort’s history is marked by betrayal and tragedy. Oomaithurai, brother of the famed Kattabomman, sought refuge here after battles. However, he was betrayed by the locals, captured, and executed. Following his d...

The Bragadeeshwarar Temple , commonly referred to as the Big Temple , is one of the most iconic and grand temples in South India. Located in Thanjavur , Tamil Nadu, it is dedicated to Lord Shiva , who is worshipped here in the form of Bragadeeshwarar or Peruvudayar . This architectural marvel was constructed in the early 11th century (around 1010 CE) by the great Chola emperor Raja Raja Chola I , and stands as a magnificent testimony to the prowess. Main Deity : The sanctum houses a massive Shiva Lingam , one of the largest in the world, made up of a single stone weighing 20 tons. Nandi (Vaahanam) : In front of the temple sits a gigantic Nandi (the bull vehicle of Shiva) , carved from a single block of black granite . Weighing approximately 25 tons , it is one of the largest monolithic Nandi statues in India. Temple Tower (Vimana) : The temple is crowned by an awe-inspiring tower that rises to a height of 65.8 meters (approximately 216 feet) , making ...

  Soorakudi is one of the ancient nine Siva temples, known as the clan temples of the Chettiars. It is located about 10 kilometres from Karaikudi on the Karaikudi-Kanadukathan highway. The temple is a peaceful, quiet, and beautiful place. It is well-maintained, and visitors can feel a positive energy as they enter. The temple is dedicated to the main deities, Desikanathar and Avudai Nayaki. The place was originally called Sooryakudi has the god’s son in seems to have come and prayed, but later became known as Surakkudi. It was already there before being handed over to the Chettiars. The temple is filled with beautifully carved sculptures and idols, created by skilled sculptors with great expertise. One of the unique features of the temple is the stone chain, where a ring is inside another ring. Avudai Nayaki is depicted with four arms and three eyes. It is believed that anyone who surrenders to her will be blessed with prosperity and wealth. The name "Avudai" also suggest...

  Pillaiyarpatti, an ancient temple carved from the very heart of rock, stands as a timeless tribute to Lord Vinayaka, the revered Lord of Wisdom, also known as Karpaga Vinayagar. Here, the Lord is uniquely depicted with just two hands, a rare and blessed form, unlike the customary four-handed depiction found elsewhere. The sacred Valampuri Vinayagar, facing north, is believed to bestow boundless wealth, prosperity, and joy upon those who seek his divine blessings. Alongside him, Lord Shiva graces the temple as Pasupathi Eshwarer, the cow-worshipping deity. Nestled 12 kilometres from Karaikudi, along the Karaikudi-Madurai State Highway, this serene town offers a few charming hotels for weary travellers. Governed by the esteemed Pillaiyarpatti Sri Karpaga Vinayagar Trust, the temple is one of the wealthiest among the nine Chettiar clan temples. On auspicious occasions, devotees flock here to celebrate marriages, engagements, and other sacred rites before the mighty Lord. During fe...

  Nemam is one of the oldest among the nine Chettiars clan temples. It is believed to be around 1,000 to 2,000 years old, it is located in Sivagangai district, about 2 kilometres from Kunrakudi on the Kundrakudi-Keelaseevalpatti road. The main deity of the temple is Jeyakondacholeesewarar. Appar seems to have sung about Nemanalloor. This place is also known by other names, such as Jeyamkondcholapuram,Jeyamkondapuram, Kulasekarapattinam, and Madhunandhipuram. The first two names suggest a connection with the Chola dynasty in the 7 th century, while the third name points to a link with the Pandya dynasty. The fourth one is connected to Kundrakudi. It is said that the sage Agasthiar worshipped here.  Varagunapandiyan made significant renovations of the temple. Although it may have been built during the Chola period, it now stands as an architectural marvel in Chettiar style. The consort of Jeyakondacholeeswarar is Alagi Nachiyamman. The temple also has several other parivara...

  Mathur Temple is an old and peaceful temple located about 7 km from Karaikudi, on the road between Iluppakkudi and Kandanoor. The temple is over 1500 years old and is dedicated to two main gods, Ainootreeswarer and Periyanayaki. Many people visit the temple for its calm and beautiful atmosphere. It is also mentioned in the songs of the famous saint Appar. The temple has seven smaller shrines, known as Pirivus, which are in nearby places like Uraniyur, Arumbakkur, and Manalur. One of the most interesting stories about the temple is of Kongana Siddhar, a person who wanted to turn iron into gold using a special magical process. After praying to Shiva, he got the power to do this. He successfully turned iron into gold, but when he tried to lift the gold, it vanished and turned into a shining Shivalinga. There is a picture of Varagam outside the Periyanayaki shrine. The temple’s mandapam, or hall, was built later. There is also a guest house opposite the temple where visitors ca...

  Nestled on a hilltop in the serene outskirts of Karaikudi, Sivagangai District, the Kundrakudi Temple, also known as Kunnakudi, is dedicated to Sri Shanmuganathan (Lord Muruga). The temple is famed for its depiction of Lord Muruga with six faces, symbolizing his multifaceted nature, and is accompanied by his divine consorts, Valli and Deivanai . The temple's origins are rooted in a legend where Martuthupandiyar built the shrine after being cured of a disease by Lord Muruga’s grace about 1300 years back. From the temple's summit, visitors are treated to a stunning panoramic view of the surrounding landscape. Lord Muruga is a beloved deity in Tamil Nadu, often celebrated as the Lord of Tamil Language , with numerous tales of his divine wisdom. Key festivals like Thaipusam and Panguni Uthiram are dedicated to Muruga, filling the air with devotion and spiritual fervor, making the temple a profound centre of faith and history.

  Illupakudi is an ancient temple located 5 kilometres from Karaikudi and is one of the nine clan temples of the Chettiar community. It is about 500 years old. The main gods in the temple are Thanthondrieswarar and Soundranayagi Amman. One interesting feature of the temple is a tiny sculpture of Lord Vinayaga (Ganesha), only one inch in size, carved into pillar in the front hall. The details, like his fingers, eyelids, and nails, are very clearly shown Lord Bairava is appears in a special form in the temple. A famous story about this temple involves Kongana Siddhar, a person who prayed to Lord Ainootreeshwarar of Mathur to learn the secret of turning iron into gold. He was instructed to pray to the Bairava here at Illupakudi, and when he did, Lord Bairava blessed him with the power. Devotees come here to pray for various things such as family prosperity, marriage, having children, and to remove any bad luck or health issues. Women who are having trouble getting married often ...

  Moolangudi is a peaceful village in North Tamil Nadu, located in Sivagangai Taluk. It's a special place with a rich history and spiritual importance. One of the nine Chettiar clan temples, Ilayathangudi, stands here, dedicated to the deities Kailasanathar and Nithya Kalyani Amman. The temple, about 25 kilometres from Karaikudi, with its picturous surroundings is a place of worship and peace. Nearby, there is a sacred temple tank called Pralya Oorani. In Moolangudi, the 65th Acharya of the Kanchi Sankara Mutt, His Holiness known as Mahalingam, before his anointment as the 65 th peedathipathi of the Kanchi Sankara Mutt reached spiritual perfection on an Amavasya day in the month of Panguni and in the cyclic year Virothi (1891). He travelled widely on foot, even to the borders of Orissa. The Nagarathars built a temple on his samathi to honour his memory. Moolangudi is also known for being the site where the famous Upanyasam by Visvesra Iyer took place. Visvesra Iyer later became th...

  Gangaikonda Chola puram was built by the Chola king Rajendra Chola I to celebrate his victory in the Ganges region. A large temple for the god Shiva was built there, and it became one of the biggest temples in history. The main god worshipped in the temple is called Bragadeeshwarar. This place is a small village near Jeyamkondam in the Ariyalur district, about 125 kilometres from Trichy International Airport. In the year 1025 A.D., it became the capital of the Chola dynasty. Today, it is a quiet village, mostly known for its huge and beautiful temple. The temple has a grand entrance and amazing stone carvings that impress visitors. The Chola Empire once spread as far as the Tungabhadra River in South India. To manage such a large empire, the king made Gangaikonda Chola puram the capital. The temple here is similar in style to the famous Bragadeeshwarar temple in Thanjavur, but it is smaller and more detailed. Both temples are among the largest in South India.

  Eraniyur temple is one of the nine clan temples of the Chettiars. It is located 14.3 kilometers from Thirupattur and 36 kilometers from Pudukkottai, along the Thirupattur-Ponnamaravathi road. The main deities are Lord Aadkondanathar and Sivapuri Devi. The temple is famous for its impressive structure, where visitors can see both the deity and the temple tower (Vimanam) at the same time. This temple, built in the 12th century, is known for its beautiful idols, including the famous dancing Shiva Nataraja statue. The walls of the temple are covered with beautiful paintings. Lord Vishnu had dhosam after killing demon god Eraniya Kasipu. He was given alienation here. Lord Murugan with his two wives, Deivanai and Valli, is also seen here, each sitting on their respective peacocks, which is quite unusual. There is also a shrine for Bhairavar, who is seen with his vehicle (vahanam). Important festivals celebrated at the temple are: 1.   Karthigai Sivaratri (November/December). 2. ...

  Dharasuram is a town located about 4 kilometres from Kumbakonam and is a UNESCO World Heritage site under the care of Archaeological Survey of India. The main god worshipped in the Dharasuram temple is Airawathieeswarar. The temple was built by King Raja Rajan II in the 12th century and is known for its marvellous architecture. It has a main shrine without a walkway around it, which is unusual. The temple buildings are beautifully designed.There are many detailed sculptures in the temple, and some are considered masterpieces. The stories of 63 saints called the Nayanars are shown in the carvings. The entire sculpture shows an elephant pulling a chariot with such detail that the skin looks real. This temple is famous for its stunning sculptures and design. Every part of it is decorated with carvings and stories from mythology and daily life of that time. It's not just a religious place—it also tells many stories through its art, which can fascinate visitors for hours. The temple r...

 

  Aavudaiyaar Kovil, located about 40 km from Kanadukathan, is a significant spiritual site in Tamil Saivism. Also known as Thiruperunthurai,is renowned as the place where the revered saint Maanickavasagar composed Thiruvasagam, a major Saivite literature. Tradition holds that Lord Shiva himself  authored this sacred text. Maanickavasagar also known as Vadavurar, was entrusted with purchasing Arabian horses. Instead, he used the funds to construct the temple at Aavudaiyaar Kovil. Enraged, the king punished him by making him carry stones. Maanickavasagar is one of the four principal Saivite saints, alongside Appar, Thirugnanasambandar, and Sundarar. His poetic work Thiruvasagam is so esteemed it earned the title Manivaasagam . In Chidambaram, various hymns were compiled into twelve volumes known as the Thirumurai by Nambi Andar Nambi. The first 7 contain songs by Thirugnanasambandar, Appar, and Sundarar. The 8th is a collective work of nine saints, the 9th and 10th by Thirumoo...