Sotruthurainathar Temple, Thiruchotruthurai

🛕 Lord Shiva | 📍 Thiruchotruthurai, Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu

Temple Tags: Ancient Temple Chola Temple Nayanmar Temple Paadal Petra Sthalam Sambandar Temple South India Temple Tevaram Temple

✔ Verified by Mandirvaas

⏰ Darshan

Morning: 09:00 AM – 11:00 AM
Evening: 04:00 PM – 08:00 PM

📅 Best Time to Visit

October to March is generally comfortable for pilgrimage.

📸 Photography

Not Allowed

🔱 Temple Significance

Thiruchotruthurai Sotruthurainathar Temple is an ancient Shiva temple and Tevaram Paadal Petra Sthalam located on the southern bank of the Kudamurutti River. Lord Shiva is worshipped as Odhanavaneswarar, also known as Sotruthurainathar and Tholaiyaa Selvar, while Goddess Parvati is worshipped as Annapoorani and Oppilambikai. The temple is traditionally associated with providing food to devotees and is one of the seven Thiruvaiyaru Sapthasthana temples. Appar, Sambandar and Sundarar have sung about this sacred place in the Tevaram tradition.

🏛 Temple History

According to the traditional Sthala Purana, there was once a severe famine in the region. A devotee named Arulalan prayed to Shiva because the people were suffering from hunger. Shiva was pleased with his devotion and provided an Akshaya Patra, a vessel that would never become empty of food. Arulalan then used it to feed the people. This tradition is associated with the name Sotruthurai, relating to food/rice and the place where food was provided.

Another version of the legend associates the place with Gautama Maharishi and says that Shiva blessed the region with an inexhaustible supply of food.

The temple has Chola-period inscriptions and is associated with Aditya Chola I, who is recorded as having made several contributions to the temple. Inscriptions mention donations of land and gold for lamps, offerings and festivals.

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Daily Poojas

Regular temple worship schedule

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No daily poojas available.

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Special Rituals

Sacred offerings and temple rituals

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No special rituals available currently.

🎉 Temple Festivals

No festivals available.

🔔 Darshan Timings & Rules

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Dress Code

Traditional and modest dress is recommended.

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Photography

Not allowed

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Prasad

Not available

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Prasad Details

Prasadam is available according to temple arrangements.

🧭 Pilgrim Travel Tips

Visit in the morning if you want to avoid uncertainty caused by the shorter published opening period.
This temple is an important stop in the Thiruvaiyaru Sapthasthana circuit.
Combine it with Thirukkandiyur, Thirupazhanam and Thillaisthanam.
The temple is located on the southern bank of the Kudamurutti River.
Thiruchotruthurai is approximately 5 km east of Thirukkandiyur.
The temple is traditionally associated with Annadanam and removal of hunger.
The Sapthasthana festival is particularly important for this temple.
During the Sapthasthana festival, devotees from the seven-temple procession are traditionally provided food here.
Explore the Chola-period inscriptions and temple architecture.
The large Arumugam/Murugan shrine near the entrance is a notable feature.
The separate Annapoorani shrine is important to the temple's food-related tradition.
Confirm opening hours locally before travelling because published sources give different timings.
Follow temple rules regarding photography.