Tiruvennainallur Temple

Tiruvennainallur Temple is the 14th of the 22 Tevara Stalams in the Nadu Naadu region of Tamilnadu.

Legends: Parvati is said to have worshipped Shiva in a fortress of butter. Shiva danced here to enunciate the details of the Natya Sastram. The Vedas in the form of bamboo worshipped Shiva, hence the name Venuvanam.

Sundarar was reminded the purpose of his life by Shiva here. This ancient temple of Taduttatkonda Naathar was renovated during the period of Uttama Chola (10th century) and the structure is a result of later renovations. The central shrine has a sanctum and an arthamandapam, with niche images of Bhikshatanar, Dakshinamurthy, Lingodbhavar, Bhrama and Durga. The Mahamandapam is in front of the ardhamandapam has 24 finely carved pillars. On the southern wall is a beautifully carved decorative window. On the northern side is a chamber, enclosing a fine set of bronze images of Sundarar, Paravaiyar, Sangiliyaar, Cheraman Perumaal, Manikkavacharar and others.

The front mukhamandapam has a shrine to Sundarar on its roof, with a vimanam over it. The entire complex is enclosed by a Tiruchutru maalikai, with a wide circumambulatory passage. In this courtyard, are shrines to Vinayakar, Subramaniyar, and Lakshmi. In the north eastern corner of the prakaram, is the vazhakkuraitta mandapam, supported by 62 pillars. The eastern wall of the outer prakaram has a five tiered gopuram built by a later Pallava chief Kadavarayan prior to the period of Kulottunga III.