Kutralanathar Temple

The Kutralanathar Temple at Courtallam, about 5 km from Tenkasi, is dedicated to Shiva as Kutralanathaswamy and Parvati as Kuzhalvaimozhi Ambal. It is one of the Paadal Petra Sthalams, sung by Sambandar, and its Chitra Sabha is counted among the five sabhas, or dance halls, of Nataraja, alongside Chidambaram, Madurai, Thiruvalangadu and Tirunelveli. Legend says the sage Agastya, unable to see Shiva's wedding through the crowds at Kailash, prayed here and was granted a vision of Shiva and Parvati in wedding dress.

The temple follows a conch-shaped plan and is known as Sangakkovil. A shrine of Parasakthi here is held to be among the 64 Shakti Peethams. The Chitra Sabha stands apart from the main temple, its interior covered with hundreds of murals of scenes from the Indian epics, and Nataraja is brought there during festivals. Arudra Darisanam is celebrated in the Chitra Sabha, and processions use an ivory chariot. The town is also known for its waterfalls, and the poem Kutrala Kuravanji celebrates the shrine.