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Tirunaarayur Soundaryeswarar Temple is a Hindu temple located at Thirunaraiyur in Cuddalore district of Tamil Nadu, India. The presiding deity is Shiva. He is called as Soundaryeswarar . His consort is known as Tiripurasundari.

It is one of the shrines of the 275 Paadal Petra Sthalams - Shiva Sthalams glorified in the early medieval Tevaram poems by Tamil Saivite NayanarTirugnanasambandar.

Sage Durvasa known for his temperament was on an intense penance to have the darshan of Lord Shiva.  A Gandharva from the celestial world caused hindrance to Rishis penance.  The Rishi cursed him to become a Narai-crane.  He also refused to accept his apology and suggest a relief. 

The Gandharva appealed to Lord Shiva for relief.  Lord said that he would be relieved of the curse if he performed abishek to Him with Ganga water fetched each day from Kasi.  As a bird, he flew to Kasi each day as fast as he could, fetched Ganga Water in his mouth, performed abishek and got the relief.  As Narai the crane bird was granted salvation here, the place is named Narayur  Thirunarayur.

Festival:

Vaikasi Thiruvadhirai
in May-June, 13 day Rajarajan festival and Vinayaka Chaturthi are the festivals celebrated in the temple.

Opening time:

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


This is the 33rd Shiva shrine praised in Thevaram hymns on the northern bank of Cauvery.

Three tier Rajagopuram is facing east.  There are shrines for Lord Vinayaka, Lord Muruga, Mother Gajalakshmi, Navagrahas the nine planets, Sani Bhagwan, Bhairava and Sun God.

Nambi Andar Nambi, who collected and saved the sacred Thevaram hyms from pests and edited them, while young, was watching his father offering nivedhanas to Polla Pillar-Vinayaka.  He wanted to know whether the Lord would accept only the nivedhana offered by his father and not his.  The time came to Nambi to take charge of the priesthood of the temple

He offered nivedhana to Pillayar and insisted Him to consume the offer.  But Pillayar was silent and Nambi began to weep.  He dashed his head at the feet of Vinayaka and cried.  Pleased with his Bhakti, Vinayaka accepted the nivedhana of Nambi and consumed it.

King Rajaraja Cholan did not believe this miracle and came with different nivedhana and asked Nambi to offer it to Lord Vinayaka.  Pillayar was smilingly silent.  Nambi sang the Irattai Mani Malai hymns with a touching prayer.  Polla Pillayar ate the nivedhana in the presence of all.

The indebtedness to Nambi by the saivite devotees is endless as we would have lost the treasure of our Thevaram Bhakti literature to pests but for the painstaking efforts of Nambi.  The idol of Nambi and king Rajaraja also are in the temple.


Do's:
  • Do pray Your Ishta Devata before Pilgrimage to temple
  • Do Contact Temple Devasthanam information center for inquiry ,temple information and for pooja details etc.
  • Do 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 your Istamantram to yourself inside the temple.
  • Do observe ancient custom and traditions while in Temple.
  • Do deposit your offerings in the hundi only
Don't s:
  • Do not come to Temple for any Purpose other than worshiping 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 Dharshanam. 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