Pataleeswarar Temple, Cuddalore

The Pataleeswarar Temple stands in Thirupathiripuliyur at the centre of Cuddalore, about 0.5 km from Thirupathiripuliyur railway station and 20 km south of Puducherry. Built in the Pallava and Chola periods, it is one of the 275 Paadal Petra Sthalams and one of the Nava Puliyur temples linked to the sages Patanjali and Vyaghrapada. The place takes its name from the pathiri tree and from a tiger-footed saint said to have found release here.

The temple is tied to the life of Appar. Then a Jain called Dharmasenar, he is believed to have been cured of a painful illness after praying here, where his sister served, and to have embraced Shaivism; when the Pallava king had him thrown into the sea, he floated ashore at Thirupathiripuliyur. Sambandar called the shrine a Gnazhar Koil, a temple whose deity sits under gnazhal trees. Devotees believe one visit here equals many at Kasi, Thiruvannamalai or Chidambaram. The temple has a large chariot called Theeruvadaichan, plus silver and gold chariots.