Swetharanyeswarar Temple Thiruvengadu

The Thirvengadu Sri Swetharanyeswarar Temple, also known as ‘Adi Chidambaram‘, is an ancient Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. It is situated in Thiruvengadu, in the Mayiladuthurai district of Tamil Nadu. The presiding deity here is Swetharanyeswarar, who graces devotees in the form of a Lingam. His consort is Brahmavidyambikai. Shrines dedicated to the goddesses Parvathi, Durga and Kali are also located within the temple complex. This is one of the 275 ‘Paadal Petra Sthalams’ (Shrines Praised in Song) extolled in the Tamil Saivite canon, the ‘Thevaram’. Here, Lord Shiva bestows His grace in three forms: as the Swetharanyeswarar, as Aghoramurthy, and as Nataraja

This temple houses three sacred tanks known as Surya Teertham, Chandra Teertham, and Agni Teertham; it is believed that these originated from three drops that fell from Lord Shiva’s eyes while he was performing his divine dance. It is deeply believed that bathing in these temple tanks and worshipping the presiding deity, ‘Pillai Idukki Amman,’ will resolve issues of childlessness.

This temple stands as one of the nine Navagraha shrines and is primarily dedicated to Lord Budhan (Mercury) as its presiding deity. The specific alignment of the Navagrahas at the time of an individual’s birth serves as a pivotal factor in determining that person’s character traits, behavior, and intellectual capabilities. Furthermore, an individual’s mental fortitude and intellectual prowess depend significantly—and to a large extent—upon the specific placement of Lord Budhan within their horoscope. Individuals facing difficulties in life due to the unfavorable placement of the planet Mercury in their horoscopes can alleviate the ‘Budha Dosha’—which causes issues such as infertility, lack of wisdom, academic stagnation, unemployment, and nerve-related disorders—by performing special pujas here.

Devotees need to call and register before visiting the temple for offering pooja.

Temple Timings:

06:00 AM to 12:30 PM
04:00 PM to 08:00 PM

Temple Address:

Arulmigu Swetharanyeswarar Temple, Thiruvenkadu, Tamil Nadu 609114, Mayiladuthurai district.

Temple Contact Details:

Phone : +91 436 4256424,  8667372994

By Air:

The nearest airport to this temple is Trichy Airport, located at a distance of 150 km. The Puducherry and Chennai airports are situated at distances of 104 km and 250 km, respectively, from the temple.

By Rail:

The Mayiladuthurai and Sirkazhi railway stations are located at distances of 25 km and 14 km, respectively, from the temple. Train services connecting major cities in Tamil Nadu with Mayiladuthurai are available.

By Road:

This temple is situated at a distance of 14 km from Sirkazhi and 25 km from Mayiladuthurai; adequate bus facilities are available from both these places to reach the temple.