The three Shiva temples near Kulithalai in the Karur district of Tamil Nadu hold the significance of being highly auspicious to visit and worship at all three of them in a single day - in the morning, afternoon, and evening respectively. Of the three, Tiru-Eengoi-Malai is situated on the northern bank of the river Cauvery and the remaining two temples, Tiruvatpokki and Tirukadambanthurai, lie on the river's southern bank. The prescribed order of visitation commences with Tirukadambanthurai in the morning, followed by Tiruvatpokki at noon, and culminates with the Maragadhachaleshwarar temple in Tiru-Engoi-Malai in the evening. The 'Uchi-Kaala' Pooja; mid noon worship conducted at Tiruvatpokki during the day is considered especially beneficial, as it is said that the sage Agastya himself worshipped the residing deity of Tiruvatpokki during mid-day.
According to legend, God Shiva manifested in the form of an 'Andhanan' to a king who had been fervently praying for a precious gemstone. Appearing before the king, God Shiva revealed a water tub and instructed him to fill it with water from the Cauvery, promising that bathing in its waters would bestow the desired boon. Despite his valiant efforts, the king found himself unable to fill the tub. Frustrated, he drew his sword, intending to strike the Andhanan. In that pivotal moment, Shiva intervened, staying the king's blade and revealing his divine form. Bestowing upon the humbled king the gem he so deeply desired, the deity came to be known as Ratnagiri Nathar, "the Lord of the Gem Mountain." The site itself earned the name Vatpokki, as it was here that the king raised (pokki) his sword (vaal). To this day, the Shivalinga at Thiruvadpokki bears a visible scar, a testament to the king's encounter with the divine.
The temple at Tiruvatpokki, is situated on a small hill. The temple's distinctive feature is the positioning of the deities - Ratnagireswarar, known as Malaikozhundeesar and Madhyayana Chokkar, faces west, while the Goddess faces east. The presiding deity is enshrined as a self-manifested (Swayambu) linga on the ninth rock among the eight surrounding rocks, adding to the temple's mystical aura. Interestingly, the temple and its surroundings are shaped like 'Pranava', the sacred syllable 'Aum', earning it the name Shivaya-Malai. The temple's sacred tree, a neem tree, holds special significance as it was believed to have been created by the celestial god Indra. The temple has been a site of worship and pilgrimage for various divine beings and sages, including Durga, Indra, Sayantan, Surya, Vayu, Adiseshan, Sages Uromesa and Agasthiya and the Saptha Kanyas, who have all sought blessings from the Deity of this temple.
The hill is said to have been a part of the sacred Mount Meru, and Legend has it that during a fierce battle between Vayu, the god of winds, and Adishesha, the serpent deity, Tiruvatpokki hill was ripped from Mount Meru by the sheer force of Vayu's power. The temple can be reached by ascending a well-crafted staircase of 1,140 steps. The stairs leading to the mountaintop temple, constructed in 1783 AD, comprise 952 steps interspersed with four-legged mandapams, offering respite to weary pilgrims during their ascent. The journey begins at the base, where devotees pay homage to Pradhana Vinayaka before passing through a decorative arch and a sannidhi for the primary four nayanmars. A sannidhi of Anjaneya greets climbers at the foot of the hill and an enigmatic rock called 'Ponnidum Parai' greets the climbers after the first 75 steps, followed by "Ugandam Padi" at the 750-step mark, where pilgrims encounter the sanndhis of Vinayaka and Goddess Surumbarkuzhali, facing east, before veering around to reach the abode of Vatpokkinathar. Upon entering the temple, the sannidhi of Dakshinamurthy welcomes devotees, who then proceed to the west-facing sanctum of the presiding deity RatnagiriNathar. During Shivaratri and the days surrounding it, sunlight streams through a strategically placed window, illuminating the Linga. The temple complex also houses sannidhis dedicated to Nataraja, Sivakami, Subramania, and Vairaperumal. As a sacred ritual, water from the nearby Cauvery River is carried daily in 10 jugs to perform the 'Uchikala' Abhishekam on Rathna-Giri-Nathar, further imbuing this ancient temple with divine energy and spiritual significance.
According to a well-known local legend, a crow once overturned the milk brought by a devotee to offer to Vatpokki-Nathar. As punishment, the deity commanded that the crow be burned, and ever since, crows have refused to fly over the summit of the hill where this temple is located, leading to the colloquial name "the hill that is avoided by crows" Observers have indeed noted the peculiar absence of crows in the airspace above the hill's peak, lending credence to this folkloric tale.
The pathikam composed by TiruNavukkarasar is in 5'th Tirumurai.
View of Thiruvatpokki hill
Another view
Mandap at the foot of the hill
Anjaneya
Ponnidum Parai
Climbing Path
Entrance
Idols - Inner Prakaram
Nandhi
Main Sanctum - Flagpole
Temple on top of the hill
Goddess Sannidhi Vimana