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The temple is praised by Saint Tirugnanasambandar in his Thevaram hymns. This is the 9th temple in Pandya region praised in Thevaram hymns.

This is one of the Shiva temples offering pujas to Sun God. Sun worshipped Lord Shiva placing Him on a stage Avudayar made of sapphire gems, hence the name of the Lord, Adhi Ratneswarar. When abishek is performed during midday, Lord appears blue.

This is one of the 14 Shiva temples praised in Thevaram hymns. Sages Agasthya, Markandeya and divine cow Kamadenu had worshipped Lord of this temple. Lord Muruga in the temple is praised in the Tirupugazh hymns of saint Arunagirinathar.

Three yard sticks are used to decide the reputation of great temples,  Murthy, Sthala and Theertha. Temples are famous for one or two of these aspects and some have all the three attributes. Thiruvadanai Adhi Ratneswarar temple has all the three attributes. Lord Shiva is a swayambu. He is also praised as Aadanai Nathar and Aja Gajeswarar. The sacred springs are Surya Pushkarini, Varuna, Vaaruni, Markandeya, Aghasthya and Kamadenu theerthams. During their exile, Pandavas brother Arjuna got the pasupatha missile from Lord Shiva. He was asked by the Lord to come to Thiruvadanai to know how to use the weapon. As a mark of his bhakti, Arjuna installed the Somaskanda in the temple, according to a story.

Sun was very proud of his radiating power. When the brightness on Lord rose up, Nandhi the bull vehicle of the Lord drew it, the Sun losing his brightness. Sun begged Nandhi to show him the solution. Nandi advised Sun to worship Lord of Thiruvadanai installing Him on a seat made of sapphire gems for remedy. Sun being the Adhi first among the nine planets worshipped Lord Shiva Adhi Ratneswarar as suggested.When abishek is performed on the Lord, He turns blue.

Mother Snehavalli is the deity for planet Shukra Venus. The temple is famous for Shukra worship.

Surya is said to have worshipped a blue diamond image of Shiva here. This shrine was originally known as Parijatavanam the stala vriksham through the yugams have been Parijatam, Vanni and Kurukkatti Surya is said to have worshipped here, there is a separate shrine forSuryaTejaschandar (Surya Chandikeswarar) here. Vaaruni is the son of Varuna the God of rain. One day he stayed in the Ashram of Sage Durvasa who was in deep meditation. Vaarunis friends played there using the fruits and flowers in the ashram and disturbed the penance of the sage. The angry sage cursed Vaaruni for his deed to become a strange creature with the head of a goat (Aja) and body of an elephant (Gaja). In Tamil the name will be Aadu (goat) and Aanai (elephant), hence the name of the place Thiru Aadu Aanai (Thiruvadanai). Vaaruni realized his folly. Sages nearby suggested that he should go to this temple in the Pandya kingdom, pray to Lord Shiva for his remedy. Vaaruni followed the advice. Lord appeared before him and enquired of his wish. Vaaruni in his Aja Gaja (Aadu Yanai) form begged the Lord that his life should be a lesson to those behaving badly towards respectful elders and that this place should be known asThiruvadanai till the end of Kaliyuga. Lord granting his wish, the place came to be known with the suffix Thiru Aadu Aanai (Thiruvadanai).

Moolavar: Aadaanainathar, Adhi Ratneswarar

Amman / Thayar: Snehavalli, Anbayiammai

Thala Virutcham: Vilwa

Theertham: Surya Pushkarini

Patikam :Sambandar

Old year: 1000-2000 years old

Historical Name: Thiru Aadanai

This Shivastalam is a  vast temple visited by many in the Sethu belt of Tamilnadu in Ramanathapuram district (which includes the well known Rameswaram), this shrine has been under the administration of the Royal Sethu Samasthanam, and is well connected by road to many towns in the vicinity. This shrine is regarded as the 9th of the Tevara Stalams in the Pandya region of Tamilnadu. Tiruvadanai Shiva temple is located at Tiruvaadanai near Devakottai in the Madurai District. The poem thevara Pathigam was composed here by Sambandar. This Shiva temple is a vast temple at Tiruvaadanai near Devakottai. Tiruvadanai is a Legislative Assembly Constituency State of Tamil Nadu.

A 9 tiered Rajagopuram (130 ft high) with several stucco figures, beautiful mandapams (the Chokkatanchari mandapam with 291 carved pillars), well spaced prakarams and majestic walls adorn this temple with a 10 acre spread. Bhaskara Setupati the Maharaja then, carried out major renovations here, under the management of Arunachalam Chettiar and effected a Kumbhabishekam in the year 1900. The next Kumbhabishekam was carried out in1953.

Tiruvadanai Shiva Temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva who is also known by the name Aadi Ratneswarar, Aadaanainathar and his consort Parvati is known as Snehavalli and Ambal Anbayiammai. The Theertham is known as Surya Theertham and the sthala vriksham is known as Vilvam.

Tiruvadanai Shiva Temple celebrates many festivals on a grand scale. The Brahmotsavam is an annual festival celebrated in the Tamil month of Vaikasi. Another important festival celebrated annually is Ambal organised in the Tamil month of Aadi.

Tiruvadanai Shiva Temple is well connected with all modes of transport. It can be arrived from Karaikudi via Devakottai. The temple is almost 45 km from Karaikudi. One can also travel from Sivagangai by taking the Sivgangai Tondi road via Kalayarkovil and is about 50 km from sivagangai. Tourists can also avail the buses plying from Karaikudi and Sivagangai.

The festival image of Ambal is taken in procession in a palanquin each Friday. The annual Bhrammotsavam is held in the month of Vaikasi while the annual festival for Ambal is held in the month of Aadi. 6 worship services are carried out each day. Other festivals such as Arudra Darisanam and Kartikai Deepam are celebrated with great splendour here. The Kailasa Kaatchi festival is celebrated each year to commemorate Sundarars vision ofKailasam. There are several festival Vahanams and the well known diamond chariots (vairatter) owned by the temple that are used during the annual Bhrammotsavam.

10 day Vaikasi Visaka Vasanth Utsav summer festival in (May-June)

15 day Aadi Pooram in (July-August)

Navarathri in (September-October)

Pradoshas 13th day of both full moon and new moon fortnights in all months

Karthikai in (November-December)

Chaturthi in Avani (August-September) are the festivals celebrated in the temple.

Devotees pray to Lord Adhi Ratneswarar for relief from the evil effects of past deeds. Special Sukhra (Venus planet) Homas are performed on Mother for child boon. Those under planet Shukra?s main or sub periods are advised to pray to Mother in this temple. Those consulting Nadi astrology in Tiruvannamalai and Vaitheeswaran Koil come to this temple to perform the remedial pujas.

The temple is open from 6.00 a.m. to 12.00 p.m. and from 4.30 p.m. to 8.30 p.m.

Sri Adhi Ratneswarar Temple, Thiruvadanai-623 407, Ramanathapuram district. Contact Number +91 4561254 533. 

 

Do:

 

  • Do pray your Ishta Devata before pilgrimage to Temple.
  • Do contact Temple Devasthanam information centre for enquiry, temple information and for Pooja details etc.
  • Do reserve your travel and accommodation at Temple well in advance.
  • Do bath and wear clean clothes before you enter the temple.
  • Do concentrate on God and Goddess inside the temple.
  • Do maintain silence and recite Om Namahsivaya or your Istamantram to yourself inside the temple.
  • Do observe ancient custom and traditions while in Temple.
  • Do respect religious sentiments at Temple.
  • Do deposit your offerings in the hundi only.


Don't s:

 

  • Do not come to Temple for any purpose other than worshipping of God and Goddess.
  • Do not smoke at Temple.
  • Do not consume alcoholic drinks at Temple.
  • Do not eat non-vegetarian food in the Kshetram.
  • Do not approach mediators for quick Darshanam. It may cause inconvenient to others.
  • Do not carry any weapon inside the temple.
  • Do not wear any head guards like helmets, caps, turbans and hats inside the temple premises.
  • Do not perform Sastanga Pranama inside the Sanctum Sanctorum.
  • Do not take much time while performing Sparsa Darshanam to God in Garbhagriha.
  • Do not buy spurious prasadams from street vendors.
  • Do not encourage beggars at Temple.
  • Do not spit or create nuisance in the premises of the temple.