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The glory of the shrine is sung by Saint Tirugnana Sambandar in his hymns. This is the 15th Shiva temple on the southern bank of Cauvery mentioned in Thevaram hymns.

Maharshi Vasishta worshipped Jupiter as Raja Guru in this temple, hence the place has Guru importance. Guru transition day is devotionally celebrated here.

Thittai in Tamil means wisdom spot. Human body has six bases-Mooladhara, Swadishtana, Manipuraka, Anagatha, Visuddhi and Aangna activating the life. Lord Muruga ensures the benefits of these Aadharas to his devotees with final benefit of enlightenment placing them ever in bliss. Lord Muruga is the Moolamurthi here with His body as Thenkudi and bliss as Thittai Thenkudi Thittai.

Sun God worships Lord Vasishteswara through his rays on Aavani 15, 16 and 17 and again on Panguni in the Utharayana half year on 25, 26 and 27 as Rising Sun. Surya Puja is performed during these days in the temple.
It is a still a miracle in the temple that drops of water fall on Lord Vasishteswara every 20 minutes from the Vimana. There are five Lingas in the temple representing the Pancha Bhoodas Earth, Space, Water, Fire and Vayu the wind.

This is one of the holy places with Jupiter Guru significance. Guru Bhagwan graces here from a separate shrine in a standing posture showing his sense of haste to rush to the rescue of His devotees. It is also said that those praying Guru Bhagwan will be blessed high eloquent and oratorical skills. Students pray here for attaining excellence in their studies.

Thittu in Tamil means a place in higher levels. During a pralaya period, the world was inundated with water. The boat powered by the Ohm Mantra carrying Lord and Mother stopped at a Thittu. This Thittu is Sirkali also called Thonipuram. Of the 28 holy places Lord Shiva loved in days prior to the Pralaya, 26 were submerged in water. The remaining two are Sirkaly and Thenkudi Thittai. During the Pralaya the sound OHM came out from Sirkali. In Thenkudi Thittai the sound HAM emerged along with other mantra sounds. Hence, this place is known as Gnana Medu the wisdom spot and as Thenkudi Thittai. Sirkali is known as Vadakudi Thittai. Also, places called Thittai (Kudi Thittai) are loved most by Lord and Mother. As Maharshi Vasishta had his hermitage here to worship Lord Shiva here, He is praised as Vasishteswara. Mother is praised as Ulaganayaki.

Lord is a Swayambumurthy in the temple. Sun God worships Lord with his rays in the month of Aavani on 15, 16 and 17 and again in the month of Panguni on 25, 26 and 27. The miracle that water drops fall on the Lord every 20 minutes from the Vimana continues till today.

Moolavar: Pasupatheeswarar, Pasupathinathar, Vasishteswarar

Amman / Thayar: Ulaga Nayaki Ammai, Mangaleswari, Suganda Kundalambikai

Thala Virutcham: Mullai, Ven Shenbagam, Shevvandhi

Theertham: Chakkara theertham

Pathigam: Sambandar

Old year: 1000-2000 years old

Historical Name: Thenkudithittai

This sivasthalam is situated 10 Kms from Thanjavur on Thanjavur Melattur Kumbakonam road. Town bus services from Thanjavur are available to go to Thittai.

According to the legend, during the great deluge (pralayam), when the entire Universe was surrounded by water, this place of Thittai stood aloft and Lord Shiva appeared at this Sthalam as a Swayambu Lingam. Thittai is one of the holy places, extolled by Sambandar, who hails the sanctity of the place as more superior even the glory of Lord Shiva Himself.

An unique feature of this temple is a drop of water falls on the Lingam (Main Diety) exactly every twenty four minutes (1 Naazhigai) from the roof. But for a small hole, there is no source of water or anything, on the Vimana of the main diety.

Two stones Suryagaanthakkal and Chandragaanthakkal which are placed at strategic points above the Vimana are the reasons for the droplets of water which falls on the diety.

These 2 stones absorb moisture from the atmosphere, convert into 1 water droplet, performing a natural Abhishegam to the diety, every 24 minutes (1 Naazhigai), be it the day or night.

According to legend, Brahma, Vishnu, Subramanya, Bhairavar, Sun God Sooriyan, Saneeswaran, Yama (the god of death), Parasuramar, Devendiran, Adiseshan, Sage Vasishtar, Sage Jamadagni are said to have worshipped the Swaymbu Lingam here.

This east facing temple is situated with an entrance with a3 tier gopuram. The temple theertham known as Pasu Theertham lies in front of the temple. After climbing the few steps in front of the main entrance, one enters the first prakaram. The separate shrine for Guru (Jupiter) is situated in the first prakaram and He appears in a standing posture as Rajaguru, blessing the devotees with the Abhaya Hasta. Apart from a shrine for the presiding deity Pasupatheeswarar, the temple also has shrines for Sivamurti, Devi, Vinayakar and Subramanyar and worshipped with equal importance.

Mahashivarathri in (February-March), Aipasi Annabishekam in (October-November) and Margazhi Tiruvadhirai in (December-January) are the festivals celebrated in the temple.

Lord Shiva in the temple is a Swayambumurthy. Sun God dedicates his puja to Lord through his rays on the Shivalinga on 15, 16 and 17 in Aavani month (August-September). During the Uthirayana half year in the month of Panguni (March-April) Rising Sun worships Lord Shiva on 25, 26 and of the month. It is noteworthy that drops of water fall on the Lord from the Vimana every 20 minutes. This is a miracle still happening. Planet Jupiter is in a shrine between Lord and Mother.

Praying to Lord here relieves the devotee of any adverse aspect of planet Jupiter on him/her. They also are blessed with excellence in education with prosperity.

Special pujas are offered to Planet Jupiter Guru Bhagwan.

The temple is open from 6.00 a.m. to 12.00 a.m. and from 4.00 p.m. to 8.00 p.m.

Sri Vasishteswarar Temple, Thenkudithittai-612 206, Thanjavur district. Contact Number - +914362 252 858, 94435 86453.

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.