Kripapureeswarar Temple, Thiruvennainallur

Kripapureeswarar Temple, also called the Arutkondanathar or Thiruvennainallur temple, stands in the town of Thiruvennainallur in Villupuram district. Shiva is worshipped as Kripapureeswarar, the god who grants devotees' wishes, and Parvati as Mangalambigai. A Paadal Petra Sthalam, it is closely tied to the 8th-century saint Sundarar: legend says Shiva, disguised as an old man, stopped Sundarar's wedding by producing a bond of servitude, Sundarar called him a lunatic (pitha), and Shiva later asked him to sing verses beginning with that word. Sundarar's hymns began here with 'Pitha Piraisudi'.

The present structure is believed to date from the 10th-century Chola period, with gifts from Queen Sembiyan Mahadevi. A granite wall and five-tier rajagopuram enclose the shrines. The temple opens 6–11 am and 4–8 pm, and its chief festivals are the Aadi star day for Sundarar and Panguni Uthiram, with a float festival.