Arulmigu Kalyana Pasupatheeswarar Temple

Temple information

Darshan timings

06:00 – 21:00

Best time to visit

Early morning hours on mid-week non-festival days to experience a peaceful darshan atmosphere

Deity

Deity form

Swayambhu Lingam (Five-foot tall granite Lingam, tilted slightly to the north, bearing a distinct scar marks believed to be from the hoof of Kamadhenu).

Religious tradition

Tamil Shaiva Agama traditions

Sanskrit name

श्री कल्याण पशुपतीश्वर मन्दिरम्

Also known as

Karur Pasupatheeswarar Kovil, Thiruvanilai, Anilai Shiva Temple

Darshan hours

Monday

06:00-12:00, 16:00-21:00

Tuesday

06:00-12:00, 16:00-21:00

Wednesday

06:00-12:00, 16:00-21:00

Thursday

06:00-12:00, 16:00-21:00

Friday

06:00-12:00, 16:00-21:00

Saturday

06:00-12:00, 16:00-21:30

Sunday

06:00-12:00, 16:00-21:00

Break timings

12:00PM -04:00PM

Special days

04:30-23:00 (Extended during Panguni Uthiram, Maha Shivaratri, and Pradosham cycles).

Festival timings

During the Brahmotsavam and major Pradosham days, the inner mandapams remain active continuously from 04:00 AM until late midnight.

Aarti & rituals

Morning aarti

06:30 AM

Midday aarti

11:45 AM

Evening aarti

5:30 PM

Night aarti

8:15 PM

Special aarti days

Pradosham evenings feature grand musical processions and detailed multi-tier abhishekams.

Ritual schedule

Six structured daily Agamic puja blocks performed systematically by the hereditary priests.

Pooja timings

16:30 - 18:00 (Pradosha Abhishekam slots) and special Kalyana Utsavam timings on request.

Abhishek timings

07:00 AM and 11:00 AM daily across the major shrines.

Special poojas

Pradosha Abhishekam, Kalyana Utsavam, Vahana Sevas, Sahasranama Archana, and Navagraha Shanti Homam.

Online pooja booking

Via portal

History & heritage

Historical period

Ancient

Built by

Structural stone temple constructed by the Imperial Cholas, with major modifications and expansion corridors added by the Kongu Cheras and Pandyan kings.

Architect / builder

Built under royal supervision by guilds of Chola Sthapathis (architects).

Construction materials

Premium hard granite stone block foundations paired with brick-and-lime mortar structural towers.

Historical events

Celebrated in the 7th-century Tevaram corpus by Saint Sambandar. It is the birthplace of Eripatha Nayanar, who famously killed a royal Chola elephant to protect a devotee's flowers.

Renovations

Major historical rebuilding recorded under Rajendra Chola I. Extensive structural renovations and Kumbhabhishekam cycles were executed in modern times.

Archaeological importance

Centrally protected living cultural heritage site monitored in partnership with state religious and historical departments.

Legends

Lord Brahma grew proud of his role as the creator. To humble him, Lord Shiva sent the divine cow Kamadhenu to earth. Kamadhenu arrived at this forest of Vanjavan (Karur), found a hidden Shiva Lingam under the earth, and began bathing it daily with her milk. One day, her hoof accidentally struck the underground stone object. Terrified, she apologized, but Lord Shiva emerged and declared that the visible hoof mark on his head would remain forever as a mark of her pure devotion.

Inscriptions

Over 25 detailed stone inscriptions detailing grants of land, gold coins, and oil for lamps by Chola monarchs like Rajaraja I and Rajendra I.

Architecture

Architectural style

Dravidian

Architectural period

Major stone structural configuration completed between the 10th and 13th Centuries CE.

Structure

Large, expansive urban temple complex featuring multiple layered corridors (prakarams) and high perimeter stone walls.

Floors

1

Gopuram

Features a spectacular 120-foot tall, 7-tiered Rajagopuram facing east, alongside a smaller multi-tier western gopuram entryway.

Mandapa

Features the grand 100-Pillar Mandapam adorned with detailed stone pillars, alongside an intricately carved Alankara Mandapam.

Sculptural features

Magnificent monolithic stone sculptures depicting the battle between Eripatha Nayanar and the royal elephant, along with intricate representations of the 63 Nayanars.

Artistic elements

The ceiling of the main corridors features beautiful traditional iconographic depictions of Saivite lore and the history of Karur.

Construction technique

Advanced Dravidian interlocking stone masonry engineered perfectly to support massive weight overhead without internal binding failures.

Unique features

Uniquely features two distinct separate shrines for the Divine Mother within the same outer complex: Goddess Alankaravalli (facing east) and Goddess Soundaranayagi (facing south).

Festivals & events

Festival calendar

Programmed precisely according to the Tamil astrological panchangam cycles.

Special celebration days

During the annual festival month of Panguni (March-April), for three consecutive days, the sun rays fall directly upon the main Swayambhu Lingam in the inner sanctum—a breath-taking astronomical phenomenon.

Cultural events

Grand classical dance festivals (Natyanjali) during Shivaratri and devotional musical concerts throughout the Brahmotsavam season.

Annual events

The massive 13-day Panguni Uthiram Brahmotsavam featuring the grand chariot car run, the float festival (Theppotsavam), and the Eripatha Nayanar historical reenactment ceremony.

Peak crowd season

The festive transition block of March-April (Panguni) and the complete dynamic spell of the winter festival months (October to January).

Visitor information

• ✓ Parking
• ✓ Wheelchair accessible
• ✓ Restrooms
• ✓ Drinking water
• ✓ Shoe keeping
• ✓ Prasadam counter
• ✓ Annadanam

Dress code

Traditional

Best time to visit

Early morning hours on mid-week non-festival days to experience a peaceful darshan atmosphere

Parking capacity

30-40 vehicles

Parking fees

Approx. 20-50 INR

Donation counters

Yes

Donation methods

Cash, UPI, Bank Transfer

Prasadam

Blessed Vibhuti and Kumkum distributed post-ritual; delicious hot Puliyodarai (tamarind rice) distributed during special morning hours.