Tiruvadanai

Tiruvadanai திருவாடானை Thiru Adanai
town
Tiruvadanai Location in Tamil Nadu, India
Coordinates: 9°47′0″N 78°55′10″E / 9.78333°N 78.91944°E / 9.78333; 78.91944Coordinates: 9°47′0″N 78°55′10″E / 9.78333°N 78.91944°E / 9.78333; 78.91944
Country	India
State	Tamil Nadu
District	Ramanathapuram
Languages
• Official	Tamil
Time zone	IST (UTC+5:30)
PIN	623407
Telephone code	04561

Tiruvadanai or Thiruvadanai (Tamil: திருவாடானை) is a town and a taluk headquarters of the Ramanathapuram district, in Tamil Nadu, India. The town is known for the Adhi Ratneswarar Temple and is mentioned in the Thevaram hymns.

It is situated about 70 km away from Ramanathapuram and can be reached from Karaikudi via Devakottai or Madurai via Sivagangai.

Etymology

The name Tiruvadanai or Thiruvadanai is believed to have originated from an ancient myth associated with the town. Legend has it that Vaaruni, the son of Varuna, the God of rain who was cursed by a Sage to have an elephant's body and a goat's head, regained his normal form after worshiping Shiva at this temple.

The name of the town is believed to have been derived from this mythological incident(Thiru- sacred; Adu- goat; Aanai- elephant; Thiru Adanai- the sacred place, where the goat-headed-elephant regained his original form).^[1]

Adhi Ratneswarar Temple

The Adhi Ratneswarar Temple situated in Tiruvadanai, is one of the 14 temples in South India praised in the Thevaram hymns. Sages Agasthya, Markandeya and the holy cow Kamadenu were believed to have worshiped Lord Shiva at this temple.

The temple is also mentioned in the Thirupugal and Thevara Pathigam works of Tamil poets Arunagirinathar and Sambandar respectively.^[2]

Transport and Connectivity

The town is well connected by means of road. The nearest railway station is situated at the Devakottai Road train station and the nearest airport is at Madurai.

References