Pataleeswarar Temple: History, Timings & Visitor Guide

Pataleeswarar Temple is open every day, usually from early morning to late evening with a break in the afternoon. Darshan and aarti timings change with the season and on festival days.

• MorningOpens early morning (around 5 to 6 AM)
• AfternoonShort break around midday at many temples
• EveningEvening aarti around sunset, closes by about 8 to 9 PM

Ask the temple office on arrival for the day's aarti schedule.

Dress Code & Temple Rules

• DressModest, traditional clothes covering shoulders and knees
• FootwearRemove before entering; use the shoe stand
• PhotographyNot allowed inside the sanctum
• Not AllowedLeather items, tobacco, alcohol, non-veg food
• QueueFollow queue lines and staff instructions on festival days

The temple is located in Thirupathiripuliyur at the center of Cuddalore town. The temple is 0.5 KM from Thirupathiripuliyur Railway Station (code: TDPR) and is roughly the same distance from Cuddalore Main Bus Stand. It is 20 KM south of Pondicherry and is on the way to Chidambaram. Padaleeswarar Temple is one of the ancient temples in Tamil Nadu. The temple plays a unique role in the history of Hindu religion, art, and architecture.

Legend & Significance

The Shaiva saint Appar's sister Thilakavathiyar was living in Thiruvathigai during her later years and devoted her lifetime service to Shiva. Afflicted by a painful illness, Appar, who was originally called Dharmasenar and was then a staunch follower of Jainism, prayed for relief at this temple where his sister served. By the divine grace of Shiva, he was cured. He embraced Shaivism from then and started canonizing various temples with his verses. The ruling Pallava king namely Kadava punished Appar in various ways and finally dropped him in a lime kiln. He was subsequently cast on the waters of sea, where he started floating and was pushed ashore in Thirupathipuliyur. It is believed that some of his best songs were sung at this time in praise of the presiding deities at Padaleeswarar temple and Veerateneeswarar temple. Influenced by the greatness of the poet, the king himself converted from Jainism to Shaivism.

Architecture of Pataleeswarar Temple

The temple is constructed in Dravidian style of architecture. It is classified as Gnazhar Koil (ஞாழற் கோயில்), where the image of the presiding deity is set up under Gnazhar trees (ஞாழல் மரம் - Senna sophera) . Trees like Kondrai (கொன்றை), Kongu and Theekku (teak) all fall in the category. The temples constructed in wood made from Gnazhal trees are also classified as Gnzhar Koil . Literary evidence is found in the works of Tirugnanasambandar, who refers the temple as Gnazhar Koil.