Kannayariamudayar Temple, Thirukkarayil, Hindu temple in Thirukkarayil, India

Kannayariamudayar Temple is a Dravidian-style Shiva temple in Thirukaravasal, Nagapattinam district. A granite wall encloses the shrines, and a five-tiered Rajagopuram stands at the entrance. The central sanctum houses the linga, preceded by ardhamandapa and mukhamandapa halls. Inside are shrines to Agastya Linga and Sivaloka Vinayaga, and the nine planetary deities are arranged in a single line facing the sanctum.

The temple was built during the Medieval Chola period, in the 9th century CE, with later additions by the Pandyas. It is one of the seven Saptha Vidangam shrines, holding the Adi Vidangam image among the seven Thyagaraja processional images of the Cauvery delta. The shrine is revered in the 7th-century Tevaram hymns of the Nayanmars and is counted as the 119th Shiva temple on the southern bank of the Cauvery.

The temple holds status as a Paadal Petra Sthalam, a designation from mentions in the ancient Tamil Saiva text Tevaram. This reflects its deep roots in southern Indian devotional practice.

The temple is open seven days a week with visiting hours split into two periods throughout the day. Check ahead before your visit since access times may vary on festival days.

The sanctuary is surrounded by four sacred water bodies: Brahma Tirtha, Agasthya Tirtha, Vinayaga Tirtha, and Sakthi Tirtha beside the Ambal shrine. These water sources hold significance in the site's worship practices.