Athulyanadheswarar temple

Athulyanadheswarar temple  Arakandanallur

Presiding deity :

Oppillaadha Eswarar, Oppillaadha Nayanaar


Ambal : Azhagiya Ponnammai, Soundarya Kanakaambikai

Location: Arakandanallur - Villupuram.

The temple is located at about 3 km from Thirukkovilur towards Villupuram.

The Temple: The 160 feet high Gopuram in this shrine (dating back to the 7th century) with three prakarams . This is a rock-cut cave temple of Pallavas. Thiruvannamalai is visible from this hill. There is an idol of Ramanar as a young boy in a meditative posture and the temple is visited by many Ramana Maharsishi followers.
The temple is located in a beautiful location on a hillock adjacent to the South Pennai river and is visible from a distance across the river. There are two entrances, one through the main road and the other through the river side.

Legends:

* Ramanar has meditated in this temple when he was a young boy.

* It is believed that the Pandavas visited Arankandanallur and that the temple tank close to the cave in which they stayed was created with Bhima’s mace. There are two sunais (water streams) on the hillock which are said to have been used by Pandavas and Draupadi.

* There is an imprint of Thirugnana Sambandar’s feet here. Sambandar is said to have miraculously moved a huge rock that had been placed to block the shrine. Thirugnana Sambandhar worshipped Thiruvannamalai from this hillock top.

Significance:


* One of the 275 Shiva temples glorified by the Thevara hymns