Kasi Viswanathar Temple, Sivakasi

The Kasi Viswanathar Temple stands on Bazaar Street, a busy business area of Sivakasi in Virudhunagar district. Legend says the Pandya king Harikesari Parakkirama Pandian brought a lingam back from Kasi for a temple at Tenkasi, but the cow carrying it refused to move from a vilva grove, so he installed it there. The town took its name, Sivakasi, from the story. The Madurai Nayaks later added to the temple. In 1899 Nadars who were barred from the temple tried to enter it, sparking the Sivakasi riots in which 22 people were killed and some 800 houses were burnt.

A three-tiered gopuram and a pillared hall lead to the east-facing sanctum of Kasi Viswanathar, with Vinayaka and Subramanya on either side of the approach. The goddess has a parallel shrine with its own flagstaff, and the temple tank lies to the right of the main entrance. Smaller shrines include those of Ayyappa, Durga and Nataraja. The Vaikasi Brahmotsavam is the main festival.