Arulmigu Thyagarajaswamy Temple, Tiruvarur
Kamalalayam Tank, Thiruvarur town, Tiruvarur district · Lord Thyagaraja (Somaskanda form of Shiva) and Vanmikanathar / Putridankondar (Shiva as an anthill lingam), with Goddesses Neelotpalambal and Kamalambal
A 20-acre Chola temple city with nine gopurams, the dancing Thyagaraja and Asia's largest temple chariot.
The Thyagarajaswamy Temple in Thiruvarur is one of the largest temple complexes in India, covering about 20 acres beside the equally large Kamalalayam tank. It has two main Shiva shrines: Vanmikanathar (Putridankondar), the older, where an anthill takes the place of the lingam, and Thyagaraja, the Somaskanda image of Shiva with Uma and Skanda that is said to dance as it is carried. Goddess Kamalambal has her own important shrine, a centre of Sri Vidya worship. The Tevaram saints sang of Arur, and the temple's chariot, the Aazhi Ther, is the largest temple car in Asia.
Timings
- Morning: 6:00 AM – 12:00 noon (official page); up to 12:30 PM, and 1:00 PM on Saturdays and Sundays
- Evening: 4:00 PM – 9:00 PM
- Sayaratchai (daily Pradosham): 6:00 PM every day except the two Pradosham days of the month
- Festival days: Opening and closing times may change
Darshan types and costs
- General darshan – Free
Sevas and costs
- Archanai – ₹5 (During darshan hours)
- Paal (milk) abhishekam – ₹200 (During pooja times)
- Abhishekam – ₹1,200 (As allotted)
- Thyagarajar Sahasranama Archanai – ₹1,200 (As allotted)
- Kamalambal Sahasranama Archanai – ₹1,200 (As allotted; popular on Fridays)
- Kaala Pooja (one service) – ₹500 (One of the six daily poojas, as allotted)
- Moksha Deepam – ₹1,250 (As allotted)
- Navagraha Preethi Homam – ₹25,000 (On a date fixed with the office)
- Muchukunda Sahasranama Archanai – ₹40,000 (a larger version is listed at ₹80,000) (On a date fixed with the office)
- Aazhi Ther (chariot festival) – Free (During the Panguni festival (usually March–April); date fixed by the temple each year)
How to book darshan
Archanai, abhishekam and prarthanai services are listed on the HR&CE online services page; other sponsorships are booked at the temple office opposite the Kamalalayam tank.
HR&CE online services – Thiruvarur
Dress code
Traditional dress: veshti/dhoti or trousers with shirt for men; saree or churidar with dupatta for women.
Best time to visit
October to March. Panguni (March–April) for the chariot festival and the foot darshan on Panguni Uthiram; Margazhi (Dec–Jan) for Arudra Darshan.
How to reach
- air: Tiruchirappalli International Airport is about 110 km away.
- rail: Thiruvarur Junction is about 2 km from the temple (HR&CE page).
- road: Thiruvarur bus stand is about 2 km away. Good roads from Thanjavur (~60 km), Kumbakonam (~40 km) and Nagapattinam (~25 km).
Festivals
- Panguni festival and Aazhi Ther – March – April (date fixed yearly)
- Panguni Uthiram – March – April
- Thiruvathirai (Arudra Darshan) – Margazhi (Dec – Jan)
- Aadi Pooram – Jul – Aug
- Pradosham – Twice a month