Thiruppudaimarudur Temple

Thiruppudaimarudur is a village near Veeravanallur in Tirunelveli district, known for its Shiva temple. Tradition links it with two other shrines: the Jyotirlinga at Srisailam is regarded as Shiva's head, Thiruvidaimarudur as his body and Thiruppudaimarudur as his foot, so a visit here is believed to bring the merit of seeing the other two. Only these three have the marudhu tree as their sacred tree, and a Brahmadhand can be seen inside the temple.

The founding story tells of King Surendra, burdened by the sin of killing another king in battle, who prayed to Shiva and was given a Brahmadhand; told to build a temple wherever it came to rest after going to sea and returning to land, he did so, and in the Himalayas he found an image of the goddess Gomathi made wholly of rudraksha. He bathed in the Thamirabharani near the temple and gained release, and the bathing spot, Surendara Moksha Theertham, is believed to wash away all sins. The Theerthavaari festival is held at Thaipoosam in the month of Thai.