Main Deity: Kalyana Pasupatheeswarar, Anilaiyappar, Pasupathi Nathar.

Ambal: Alangaravalli, Chowndira Nayagi, Kiruba Nayagi.

Holy Water : Brahma Theertham, Amaravathi Theertham, Thadagai Theertham, Arasa Theertham, Thenu Theeertham, Muruga Theertham.

Temple Tree: Vanji.

Prominence of the Shrine

This Temple is the most important temple among the seven Temple in the Kongu Region. This temple’s flag hoist is made up of rock stone. One side of the flag, famous sage Pughazh Chola Nayanar is holding a plate towards the god with his head on the plate as an offering and the other side of the flag Shiva Linga is there.

There is a sculpture of Cow which is licking that Shiva Linga. Another specialty of this temple is it has got five Lingas. At this temple there are two dedicated Sannidhis for Goddess Devi. Karuvurar or Karvur Thevar, the famous Siddha who helped many Chola during their glorious ruling was born at this town. Pughazh Chola Nayanar ruled this area. Thirugnana Sampanthar sung about this temple.

Mythology & History

Legend says that Kamadhenu, the mythological cow, meditated upon Siva to receive his blessings and the name Aanilai. Brahma is said to have worshipped the presiding deity here. Thus the Sthala Theertham is called the Brahma Theertham.

The old temple capital of Chera Kings.of Karur is at least 2000 years old. Six times pooja had been happening every day for several centuries now. This town used to be the Legend has it that Siva on sensing the conceit of Brahma as the creator of the world, sent Kamadhenu to Vanji forest in Karur to take up the duty of creation and instructed her to worship the Siva lingam hidden in an anthill at the forest. When Kamadhenu was performing the abishekam to the lingam with its milk, her hoof accidentally hit the lingam and injured it. The scar left on the lingam is seen on its back even now as a depression. Kamadhenu pleaded guilty. The Lord told her that he will be hailed as Pasup

Later on a temple came to be built in that place. There is a Brahma theertham created by Brahma to the north of the river Amaravathy. Quite paradoxically, the presiding deity has two consorts, Alankara Valli (also known as Kripanayaki) and Soundara Nayaki and their sannidhis are found to the north of the presiding deity. There is an underpass from the Kalyana mantapam, to reach their shrines. While Alangaravalli is a symbol of ‘kriya sakti,’ Soundara Nayaki represents ‘itcha sakti.’ The Sannidhi of Alankara Valli with the Sri Chakram and the mount, lion, installed in front of her, faces east, and that of Soundara Nayaki south.

An interesting and authentic tale hangs around the second consort, Soundara Nayaki. It is said that Vadivudaiyal born to a wealthy village official in Appipalayam, at a distance of seven km to the west of Karur, was devoted to Pasupatheeswarar and was bent upon marrying him. She performed Siva puja daily by observing all religious injunctions. Her parents could not dissuade her. On the other hand, Pasupatheeswarar assured them in their dream that he would marry their daughter on the seventh day of Panguni Uthiram festival, which will be indicated through a floral shower over entire Appipalayam.

atheeswarar as she worshipped him at this place thus according a special status to Kamadhenu. Pleased with this, Kamadhenu continued the work of creation. Meanwhile, realizing his mistakes Brahma took up severe penance worshipping Lord Siva in order to get back his place in Satya loka. Pleased with his prayers, the Lord restored the power of creation back to Brahma and took Kamadhenu along with him.

Vadivudaiyal was meditating when the whole village witnessed the downpour, and a glowing garland bedecked her. She was taken to Pasupatheeswarar temple where she merged with the lord. Even to this date, the Utsava idol of Pasupatheeswarar is taken to Appipalayam, on the sixth day in the month of Panguni and returns on the seventh day with Soundara Nayaki.

Another noteworthy feature at this temple is the Navagrahas. There are separate niches for Surya and Chandra in the Kalyana mantapam. The eight-armed Kala Bhairavar in the same mantapam has been cast in a splendid way. At the outer prakarams are, the idols of 63 Nayanmars placed on a raised platform in a row. Out of them, Eripatha Nayanar was associated with this temple during the reign of Chola king, Pugazh Chola, and attained godly state for having killed the coronation elephant of the latter after it snatched the flower basket from an aged devotee of Siva, Sivakamiandar and trampled it. Pugazh Chola became a Nayanmar later.

The idols of Eripatha Nayanar, Pugazh Chola, Sambandar and emperor Muchukunda (said to be a Chola king) are found at the corners of the enclosure around flagstaff. At the north-west corner of the outer prakaram is the Sannidhi for Shanmugha, who is seen with his consorts. Proceeding further on the northern side of the outer prakaram one can see Pancha Lingas.

The sprawling Kalyana mantapam is a fine piece of architecture. Its supporting pillars impart a sense of rhythm and symmetry. The original floor must have been replaced with dark spark tiles at some point of time during the Kumbabishekam, the last of which was held in 2006. The floor has been divided into three segments. The lower-most has the Dhwajasthambham, Bali Peetam and Nandi of a moderate size. The top-most segment leads to maha mantapam, ardha mantapam and garbhagriha. The ceiling is splashed with paintings of puranic lore. The lingam, which is said to be Swayambu, is five-ft tall.