Rudrakodisvarar Temple, Sempankudi

Rudrakodisvarar Temple is a Shiva temple at Sempankudi, about a kilometre from Sirkazhi's old bus stand along the Tirumullaivayil road, reached by a narrow lane. It is a Vaippu Sthalam named in Appar's hymns. The lingam is known as Rudrakodisvarar and Naganathar, and the goddess as Tirupurasundari and Karpuravalli.

Its legend comes from the churning of the ocean: an asura who stole a sip of nectar disguised as a god was struck down by Vishnu, his head falling at Sirkazhi and his body here, at what was then called Sempambinkudi. The two halves became serpents that worshipped Shiva and were turned into Rahu and Ketu, and Ketu is said to have prayed at this temple. Inside the compound wall are the bali peetam and Nandi, shrines to Vishnu, Ganesha and Subramania with his consorts, the seven mothers, and a separate shrine to Ketu. Dakshinamurthy, Lingodbhava and Durga occupy the wall niches.