9. SRI AADAANAINATHAR TEMPLE TIRUVAADAANAI

Devara Paadal Petra Sthalam	253rd Shiva Sthalams(One of the Devara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam)
Region	Pandiya Naadu
Pandiya Naadu	9th Shiva Sthalam
Pathigam	Saint Thirugnanasambanthar

HISTORY:

Tiruvadanai or Thiruvadanai is a town and a taluk headquarters of the Ramanathapuram district, in Tamil Nadu, India. The town is known for the Adhi Ratneswarar Temple and is mentioned in the Thevaram hymns.

It is situated about 70 km away from Ramanathapuram and can be reached from Karaikudi via Devakottai or Madurai via Sivagangai.

Thiruvadanai is one of the many temple towns in the state which is named after the grooves, clusters or forests dominated by a particular variety of a tree or shrub and the same variety of tree or shrub sheltering the presiding deity. The region is believed to have been covered with Vilva forest and hence called Vilvavanam.

The name Tiruvadanai or Thiruvadanai is believed to have originated from an ancient myth associated with the town. Legend has it that Vaaruni, the son of Varuna, the God of rain who was cursed by a Sage to have an elephant's body and a goat's head, regained his normal form after worshiping Shiva at this temple. The name of the town is believed to have been derived from this mythological incident(Thiru- sacred; Adu- goat; Aanai- elephant; Thiru Adanai- the sacred place, where the goat-headed-elephant regained his original form).

The Adhi Ratneswarar Temple situated in Tiruvadanai, is one of the 14 temples in Paandiya Naadu praised in the Thevaram hymns. Sages Agasthya, Markandeya and the holy cow Kamadenu were believed to have worshiped Lord Shiva at this temple.

SALIENT FEATURE:

·        The temple is also mentioned in the Thirupugal and Thevara Pathigam works of Tamil poets Arunagirinathar and Sambandar respectively.

TEMPLE INFORMATION:

Moolavar	Sri Adhi Ratneswarar
Ambal	Sri Snehavalli
Theertham	Surya Pushkarini Theertham
Sthala Vriksham	Vilwa

BELIEF:

Devotees pray to lord here for relief from eveil effects of past deeds. Special sukhra homas are performed on goddess for child boon. Those under planet shukra’s main or sub-periods are adviced to pray to goddess in this temple

TEMPLE FESTIVAL:

Tamil Month	English Month	Festival Name
Vaikasi	May-June	Vaikasi Visakam
Avani	Aug-Sept	Vinayakar Chaturthi
Purattasi	Sep-Oct	Navarathri
Karthikai	Nov-Dec	Thirukarthikai
Markazhi	Dec-Jan	Thiruvadhirai
Maasi	Feb-Mar	Maha Shivrathri

HOW TO REACH:

Tiruvaadanai can be reached from Karaikudi via Devakottai and is about 45 Kms. from Karaikudi. It can also be reached from Sivagangai by travelling on the Sivgangai - Tondi road via Kalayarkovil and is about 50 Kms from Sivagangai. Bus facilities from Karaikudi and Sivagangai are available.

TEMPLE ADDRESS:

Sri Aadaanai Nathar Temple,
Tiruvadanai,
Ramanathapuram,
Tamil Nadu – 623407.

LOCATION: