Tiruttalinathar Temple, Thiruputhur

The Tiruttalinathar Temple is a large Shiva temple in the small town of Thiruputhur, about 20 km from Karaikudi and 65 km from Madurai. It is one of the 275 Paadal Petra Sthalams, sung by Sambandar and Appar, and counted sixth among the Tevaram shrines of the old Pandya country. Legend says Shiva performed the Gowri Thandavam dance here for Mahalakshmi, and the serpents Vasuki and Karkotaka worshipped him, giving rise to a separate shrine for Tirunageswarar. The temple received patronage from the Cholas, Pandyas and Cheras, and later from the Sethupathis and the Maruthu Pandiyar.

The complex covers 15 acres and has three enclosures, the outermost a broad courtyard. The raised main shrine faces east, with Sivagami's shrine beside it. Pillars in the front hall carry carvings of Narasimha, a dancing Ganapathy and others, and there is a Yoga Bhairavar shrine. Rounded pilasters on the vimana point to the temple's age. The Konrai is its sacred tree, and the Jayantan festival falls on the first Friday of Chittirai.