| Nadu Naadu - Temple List | ||
|---|---|---|
| # | Temple Location | Deity Known As |
| 1 | Tirunelvayil Arathurai | Arathurai Nathar |
| 2 | Pennagadam (Thoongaanai Maadam) | Sudarkozhundeesar |
| 3 | Tirukkoodalaiyatrur | Nerikkattunayakar |
| 4 | Erukkattampuliyur | Swedhaarka Vaneswarar |
| 5 | TiruthinaiNagar | Sivakozhundeesar |
| 6 | Tiruchopuram | Chopuranathar |
| 7 | Tiruvathigai | AthigaiVeerattanathar |
| 8 | Tirunaavalur | Tirunaavaleswarar |
| 9 | Tirumudukundram | Pazhamalainathar |
| 10 | Tirunelvennai | Vennaiyappar |
| 11 | Tirukkovilur | Veeratteswarar |
| 12 | TiruAraiyaninallur | Oppillaadha Eswarar |
| 13 | Tiruvidaiyaru | Idaiyattrunathar |
| 14 | Tiruvennainallur | Kripapureeswarar |
| 15 | Tiruthuraiyur | Pasupatheeswarar |
| 16 | Vadugur | Panchanatheeswarar |
| 17 | Tirumaanikuzhi | Vaamanapureeswarar |
| 18 | Tiruppadiripuliyur | Paataleeswarar |
| 19 | Tirumundeeswaram | Sivaloga Nathar |
| 20 | Puravar Panankattur | Panankatteesar |
| 21 | Tiru Aamaathur | Azhagiyanayanaar |
| 22 | Tiruvannamalai | Arunachaleswarar |
| 23 | Kiliyanur | Agatheeswarar |
Nadu Naadu Region
Villupuram, Cuddalore, Tiruvannamalai districts of Tamilnadu were part of the region referred to as Nadu Naadu during the time when Thevaram Hymns were sung by the Nayanmars.
Districtwise location of these temples
| Cuddalore District | Tirumudukundram (Viruddhachalam), Tirunelvayil Arathurai, Pennagadam (Thoongaanai Maadam), Tirukkoodalaiyatrur, Erukkattampuliyur, TiruthinaiNagar, Tiruchopuram, Tiruvathigai, Tirumaanikuzhi, Tiruppadiripuliyur |
| Villupuram District | Tirunaavalur, Tirunelvennai, Tirukkovilur, TiruAraiyaninallur, Tiruvidaiyaru, Tiruvennainallur, Tiruthuraiyur, Tirumundeeswaram, Puravar Panankattur, Tiru Aamaathur |
| Tiruvannamalai District | Tiruvannamalai |
| Pondicherry State | Vadugur |
Saptha Vidanga Sthalangal
Saptha Vidanga Sthalangal refers to the seven temples where Shiva is worshipped in the form of Thyagaraja, each associated with a unique form of divine dance movement (vidanga). These temples are mostly located in the Cauvery delta region of Tamil Nadu and are associated with a fascinating legend that intertwines devotion, divine grace and dance.
The legend tells us that Indra, the king of the celestial beings, worshipped Shiva in the form of Thyagaraja. The Chola king Musukuntha was blessed by Indra and requested the idol of Thyagaraja Swamy for worship on Earth. Reluctant to part with the sacred idol, Indra created six identical replicas. However, the king, through his devotion and divine insight, was able to identify the original idol. Pleased with his devotion, Indra gifted him the original idol along with the six replicas.
Each of these seven idols are enshrined in a seven different temples, collectively known as Saptha Vidanga Sthalangal:
Important festivals
A festival is a spiritual occasion when people come together on specific days each year to celebrate and worship. Some of the major festivals celebrated at these temples are:
- Chidambaram – Arudra Darshan and Chariot Procession (Margazhi Full Moon), Aani Thirumanjanam (Aani)
- Uthirakosamangai – Arudra Darshan (Margazhi)
- Tiruvarur – Ther Tiruvizha - Great Chariot Festival (Maasi)
- Thiruvannamalai – Karthigai Deepam (Karthigai)
- Kalahasti – Maha Shivaratri (Maasi) Brahmotsavam
- Madurai – Puttu Festival (Aavani Moola), Sapparam (Margazhi Ashtami)
- Thiruvaiyaru – Appar Kailaya Darshan (Aadi Amavasai)
- Thiruvanchikalam (Kerala) – Sundarar Kailaya Darshan (Aadi month, Swathi star)
- Thirukazhukundram – Laksha Deepam Festival (when Jupiter enters the Virgo ascendant)
- Kumbakonam – Mahamaham Great Festival (Maasi)
*Among the above festivals, the Laksha Deepam Festival and Mahamaham Great Festival occur only once every 12 years. These two festivals will be celebrated in 2028.