Rajacholeesvarar Temple, Thirumalairayanpattinam

Rajacholeesvarar Temple is a Shiva temple at Thirumalairayanpattinam, also called Thirupattinam, on the Karaikal–Nagapattinam road between Karaikal and Nagore. It is one of the Vaippu Sthalams sung by the Nayanar Sundarar. The lingam is worshipped as Rajacholeesvarar and the goddess as Abirami.

In the 15th century the town was the capital of Saluva Thirumalairayan, who governed for the Vijayanagara kings; a river he created bears his name, and the poet Kalamegam served in his ministry. The prakara holds sculptures of the 63 Nayanmars, together with Manikkavacakar, and pujas are offered to them. A figure of Chandikesvarar is made from a special green stone, and Nagalinga trees grow around the temple. Dvarapalas stand before the main shrine, Vinayaka and Sanisvara flank the entrance to the front mandapa, and there are shrines to Vinayaka, Subramania, Gajalakshmi, the Navagrahas, Marutalinga, Bairava and Surya.