Thiruvenkadu Swetharanyeswarar Temple

Venkadu means "white forest", as does its Sanskrit form Swetaranyam. Here the Lord is worshipped as a lingam named Swetharanyeswarar. The goddess is Brahmavidyambigai, also called Periya Nayagi.

The sthala puranam goes thus. Maruthuvasuran, son of Jalandharan, gained boons from Brahma and used his strength to torment the devas. Nandi fought and defeated him, but he did penance again and won new boons. In the end, by tradition, Shiva himself appeared as Aghora Murthi and destroyed him. Nandi is said to have suffered nine wounds in that battle, and they are shown on the Nandi image here. Aghora Murthi, one of Shiva's sixty-four forms, has his own shrine, and the Sunday-night worship held for him is a hallmark of this temple.

Budhan, afflicted by a curse, did penance and worshipped Shiva here and was freed, says the temple's account. Budhan is the son of Chandra and Tara, and his shrine stands in the north-western part of the temple near the Chandra Theertham. The puranam also says Indra and his elephant Airavata, as well as Surya and Chandra, worshipped the Lord here.

The temple is also called Adi Chidambaram: tradition says Shiva danced here before he danced at Chidambaram, and that Vishnu watched that dance here. As at Chidambaram, there is a Vishnu shrine near the Nataraja shrine. The three tanks, the Surya, Chandra and Agni Theerthams, are said in one story to be three drops of sweat that fell from Shiva's brow as he danced.

Meykandar, author of the Sivagnana Bodham, the founding text of Saiva Siddhanta, was born at Thiruvenkadu, after his childless parents prayed here. The government's temple page links the saint Pattinathar, known as Thiruvenkadar, with this place. When Sambandar came, the whole town seemed to him the Lord's own abode, and hesitant to set foot in it, he cried out "Ammaye". By tradition the Mother carried him into the temple, and the image recalling this is known as Pillai Idukki Amman.

The government's temple page says Sambandar, Appar, Sundarar and Manikkavasagar all sang of this shrine, and the place is said to be mentioned in the Valmiki Ramayana. It is the eleventh Thevaram shrine of Chola Nadu on the north bank of the Cauvery, and one of six shrines held to equal Kasi. The temple's origins are Chola. About a hundred inscriptions of the Chola, Pandya and Vijayanagara periods survive, recording gifts by Aditya Chola I, Rajaraja I, Rajendra I, Virarajendra, Kulothunga I and Krishnadevaraya. The present stone structure dates from the Vijayanagara kings in the 16th century. It stands on about two acres, with seven-tiered gateway towers at its east and west entrances. The department's record lists the sacred trees as banyan, kondrai and vilvam. Chitra Pournami and Aani Thirumanjanam are its biggest festivals. The temple is administered by the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department of Tamil Nadu.

Many come on Wednesdays to worship at Budhan's shrine for learning, intellect and skill in speech. The usual practice is to bathe in the three tanks and then worship Swetharanyeswarar and the goddess. Sunday-night worship of Aghora Murthi is a distinct tradition of this temple, and a special midnight puja is held for him on the third Sunday of Karthigai. These are devotional practices based on belief, and no result is promised. For timings and fees, please check with the temple before you go.