Thyagaraja Swamy Temple (Vadivudai Amman Temple), Tiruvottiyur
Shiva as Adhipureeswarar and Thyagaraja, with Goddess Vadivudai Amman temple · Tiruvottiyur, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
The Thyagaraja Swamy Temple in Tiruvottiyur, in the northern part of Chennai, is a Shiva temple popularly known as the Vadivudai Amman Temple after its Goddess. The presiding deity is Shiva as Adhipureeswarar, and the temple is also closely associated with Thyagaraja, the form of Shiva worshipped at Tiruvarur. It is administered by the Tamil Nadu Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) Department.
The temple is one of the Paadal Petra Sthalams praised in the Tevaram hymns of Appar, Sambandar and Sundarar. Wikipedia records that it dates back to the Pallava period and was expanded under the Cholas, and The Hindu has reported on its many Chola-era stone inscriptions.
Faith & Tradition
Religious Significance of Thyagaraja Swamy Temple (Vadivudai Amman Temple), Tiruvottiyur
The main linga is unusual. According to Wikipedia, Adhipureeswarar is a mound of earth kept covered by a protective case (kavacham). The case is removed only around the full moon of the Tamil month of Karthigai (November–December), when devotees can see the linga uncovered and it is anointed with fragrant oils such as punugu, javvadhu and sambrani.
The Goddess Vadivudai Amman, also called Tripurasundari, has her own shrine. Wikipedia and the Tiruvallur district administration describe her as the form of Gnana Shakti (the power of knowledge). She is one of a traditional trio of goddesses in the Tondaimandalam region, with Thiruvudai Amman at Minjur and Kodiyidai Amman at Thirumullaivoyal. The Hindu reports that devotees regard the temple as one of the 51 Shakti Peethams.
The temple has a long literary and devotional history. According to Wikipedia, the saint-poet Sundarar is believed to have married Sangiliyar here, an event the temple marks each year. The temple is also linked with the saint Pattinathar, who is believed to have attained samadhi at Tiruvottiyur, and the 19th-century saint Ramalinga Swamigal, who worshipped here in his youth. Wikipedia records that the Carnatic composer Tyagaraja visited the temple and composed five songs in praise of the Goddess, known as the Tiruvottiyur Pancharatnam.
Heritage
History of Thyagaraja Swamy Temple (Vadivudai Amman Temple), Tiruvottiyur
According to Wikipedia, the temple was in worship from Pallava times and was rebuilt and expanded by the Chola king Rajendra Chola I in the 11th century. Its inscriptions include one of 954 CE, from the reign of the Chola king Gandaraditya, recording a gift of sheep to maintain lamps, and records from 1046 CE describing the installation of bronze images of the Nayanmar saints. Wikipedia, citing several historians, adds that inscriptions show the temple was a centre of learning, with halls for teaching grammar and philosophy and grants of land for scholars.
Wikipedia records that much of the temple was damaged in the early 14th century and that the bronze images now in the temple were installed in the Vijayanagara period of the 15th century.
In May 2019 The Hindu reported devotees' concern about the temple's stone inscriptions, many of them from the Chola period. They had been removed from the corridor during a 2014 renovation, and about 20 had been set up in an 'inscription park' with no explanatory boards. HR&CE officials told the paper that about 20 more were in safe custody and that steps would be taken to clean and relocate them within the temple.
Architecture and sacred features
Wikipedia describes a seven-tiered gateway tower, a temple tank and a total area of about one acre; The Hindu notes that the temple has three flagstaffs and two tanks. Within the complex are shrines of Nataraja, Gunalaya Vinayaka, Dakshinamurthy, Durga, Murugan, and an image of Adi Shankara behind the main shrine. The Tiruvallur district administration lists 27 lingas in the outer corridor, one for each birth star, which devotees worship according to their own star, as well as shrines of the 63 Nayanmars, Vattaparai Amman and Kalyanasundarar beside the tank.
Plan Your Visit
Darshan and Visitor Information
Crowds are heavy on Tuesdays, Fridays and festival days, and especially during the yearly unveiling of the linga in Karthigai. Confirm current timings, special darshan arrangements and festival dates with the temple administration (HR&CE) before visiting.
Timings and arrangements change with seasons and festivals. Confirm current details with Tamil Nadu Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department before travelling. Last reviewed 1 November 2026.
Sacred Calendar
Festivals at Thyagaraja Swamy Temple (Vadivudai Amman Temple), Tiruvottiyur
Masi Brahmotsavam
The temple's main annual festival, which Wikipedia notes has historically drawn large crowds.
Unveiling of Adhipureeswarar
The kavacham covering the linga is removed and devotees can see the linga uncovered.
Sundarar's wedding festival
Commemorates the belief that Sundarar married Sangiliyar at Tiruvottiyur.
Location
How to Reach Thyagaraja Swamy Temple (Vadivudai Amman Temple), Tiruvottiyur
The temple is on Ennore High Road in Tiruvottiyur, north Chennai. The Tiruvallur district administration notes that MTC city buses connect it with the rest of Chennai, that suburban trains are frequent, and that Chennai Airport is the nearest airport. It advises an early start because north Chennai roads can be congested.
Location: Tiruvottiyur, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
Nearest airport: Chennai (per the Tiruvallur district administration)
More in Hindu temples in Tamil Nadu · Shiva as Adhipureeswarar and Thyagaraja, with Goddess Vadivudai Amman temples · Temples in Chennai District
Questions
Thyagaraja Swamy Temple (Vadivudai Amman Temple), Tiruvottiyur: Frequently Asked Questions
Why is it also called the Vadivudai Amman Temple?
The Goddess of the temple, Vadivudai Amman (Tripurasundari), is very widely worshipped, and the temple is popularly known by her name.
When can the Adhipureeswarar linga be seen uncovered?
The linga is normally covered by a kavacham, which is removed around the full moon of the Tamil month of Karthigai (November–December).
Is Tiruvottiyur a Paadal Petra Sthalam?
Yes. It is praised in the Tevaram hymns of Appar, Sambandar and Sundarar.
What is the link with Tiruvarur?
The temple is associated with the Thyagaraja form of Shiva worshipped at Tiruvarur, and Wikipedia records that both temples were expanded by Rajendra Chola I.
How old is the Tiruvottiyur temple?
Wikipedia dates it to the Pallava period, with Chola expansion in the 11th century. Its inscriptions include one of 954 CE.
Who manages the temple?
The Tamil Nadu Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department.
Sources and attribution
- The Hindu — 'Tiruvottiyur temple inscriptions in a bad state' (8 May 2019)
- District Administration, Tiruvallur (Government of Tamil Nadu) — Vadivudaiamman Udanurai Thyagarajaswami Temple, Thiruvottriyur
- Wikipedia — Thyagaraja Temple, Tiruvottiyur
Further reading: Thyagaraja Swamy Temple (Vadivudai Amman Temple), Tiruvottiyur on Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).
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