Pasupatheeswarar temple, Tiru-Vetkalam
Location: Tiru-Vetkalam
Deity known as: Paasupatheswarar
Female Deity: Nalla-Nayaki, Sargunambal
Pathikam: Sambandar - 1
Gallery – Pasupatheeswarar Temple, Tiruvetkalam
How to Reach
This Shiva temple is situated within the serene campus of Annamalai University at Annamalai Nagar, near Chidambaram. Devotees can enter through the university’s main gate and proceed towards the rear side of the campus, where the temple is located close to the music college—offering a peaceful and spiritually enriching atmosphere amidst an academic setting.
Temple Address
Tiruvetkalam
Annamalai Nagar Post
Chidambaram
Cuddalore District
PIN – 608002
Near by Temples
| 1 | Tiru-Nel-Voyal - 4 kms | |
| 2 | Tiru-Kazhi-Paalai - kms |
Location Map
Sthala Purana
Tiruvetkalam is revered as the site where Arjuna performed intense penance to obtain the powerful Pashupatastra. On the advice of Krishna, Arjuna came to this place—then a dense bamboo forest—to undertake tapasya for victory in the Kurukshetra War. Alarmed by this, Duryodhana sent the asura Mukasura to disrupt him. Disguised as a wild boar, Mukasura charged at Arjuna during his penance. At that very moment, Shiva appeared in the form of a hunter (Kirata) and shot an arrow at the boar, just as Arjuna did. A dispute arose over who had slain the boar, leading to a fierce battle between Arjuna and the hunter. Their combat intensified, with arrows flying rapidly, until Arjuna’s bow was shattered. Enraged, Arjuna struck the hunter on the head with his broken bow—an act so powerful that it echoed across all three worlds
Angered by the actions of Arjuna, Parvati was pacified by Shiva, who then subdued Arjuna by kicking him. Through this divine act, Arjuna was blessed with pada-diksha (initiation through Shiva's feet) and sparsha-diksha (initiation through touch). With the grace of Parvati, he fell into the sacred waters at that spot and emerged unharmed, purified and enlightened. Soon after, Shiva and Parvati revealed their true forms and bestowed upon Arjuna the powerful Pashupatastra, granting him divine strength for the great war. Even today, the Linga of the presiding deity is believed to bear the mark of Arjuna’s strike, a testimony to this extraordinary incident.
Temple Layout
The temple at Tiruvetkalam is marked by a three-tiered east-facing Rajagopuram that leads into a spacious prakaram. Within this prakaram, there are sannidhis dedicated to Ganesha as Sidhdhi Vinayaka and Somaskanda. The mandapam in front of the south-facing sannidhi of Parvati is supported by four intricately carved pillars. These sculptures depict important scenes from the legend of Arjuna, including his relaxed posture with lowered weapons, his penance while standing on one leg, Shiva in the guise of a hunter, and the confrontation between Shiva and Arjuna.
Along the pathway within the prakaram, one can observe the images of Narthana Vinayaka, Dakshinamurthy in his Anugraha aspect, and Murugan depicted seated on a peacock. Another distinctive feature of the temple is the presence of Surya and Chandra together. Worship offered to them during solar or lunar eclipses is believed to help alleviate planetary doshas. The main deity resides in an east-facing sanctum and is accompanied by the Goshta Murthas, which include Uchchi Vinayaka, Narthana Ganapathy, Dakshinamurthy, Lingothbhavar, and Brahma. There is also a separate sannidhi dedicated to Chandeshwara, completing the temple’s rich architectural and spiritual layout.
Arunagirinathar & Tirupugazh
Poet Arunagirinathar has glorified the Muruga of Tiruvetkalam through his revered Tirupugazh, with two hymns specifically dedicated to this temple. Here, Muruga is depicted facing east, with twelve compassionate hands, seated majestically on a peacock, accompanied by His consorts. Remarkably, this entire representation is sculpted from a single stone, showcasing exquisite craftsmanship and devotion. The temple celebrates the festival of Vaikasi Visakam with great grandeur, marking an important occasion associated with Muruga and drawing devotees in large numbers.
At Tiruvetkalam, the sacred temple tank is known as ‘Krupa Theertham’, revered by devotees for its spiritual significance. The Sthala Vruksham (sacred tree) of this temple is bamboo, reflecting the ancient tradition that this site was once a dense bamboo forest where Arjuna performed his penance.
Tirugnanasambandar is believed to have stayed at Tiruvetkalam and would regularly visit Chidambaram to worship Nataraja. The pathikam (hymn) on this temple composed by Tirunavukkarasar is included in the 5th Tirumurai, one of the sacred canonical works of Tamil Saivism.
Gallery – Pasupatheeswarar Temple, Tiruvetkalam
