Vishahareswara Temple, Avanam Paruthiyur

Vishahareswara Temple stands on the banks of the Kudamurutti River, a distributary of the Kaveri, in Avanam Paruthiyur, Thiruvarur district. It dates from the 9th century, built under the Chola king Aditya, and by legend is one of 108 Shiva temples he raised along the Kaveri. Hindu tradition says the Sun, his face blackened by the poisonous breath of Rahu, worshipped Shiva here and was restored; the god is honoured as Vishahareswarar, poison remover, with Prasanna Parvathi Devi.

Snake poison is said to have no effect here, and though the village has many cobras, no bites are reported. Those suffering from poisonous bites and deadly diseases travel from far to pray, and worship is believed to relieve the ill effects of Rahu, Kethu and Mars. The devotee Paruthiyur Venkatesha Sastri, or Annaval, cared for the temple, and after renovation from 2003 and a new Rajagopuram, Kumbhabhishekham took place in 2017.