Tiruvetkalam Pasupatheswarar Temple, Hindu temple in Chidambaram, India
The Tiruvetkalam Pasupatheswarar Temple is a Hindu temple in Chidambaram that spans across two acres with rectangular walls and a structured layout. A three-tiered eastern tower contains multiple shrines and serves as the focal point for worship.
The temple has roots extending more than 2000 years back, built on a long tradition of worship in the region. A significant turning point came in 1914 when A. Pethaperumal Chettiar replaced the original brick structure with permanent stone construction.
Three prominent Saivite saints composed Thevaram hymns about this temple, with Saint Sambandar specifically mentioning it as Nannagar in his devotional verses. This connection shows its long-standing importance in the devotional tradition of the region.
The temple is located within the Annamalai University campus and is accessible during daytime hours. It is best to visit in the morning when daily prayers happen and the space is quiet.
The Ambica shrine features four pillars carved with a famous mythological scene where Arjuna receives the legendary Pasupatha missile from Lord Shiva following their epic battle. These carvings preserve an important moment from Hindu scripture on stone.
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