Arulmigu Sri Kadambavaneswarar Temple
அருள்மிகு ஸ்ரீ கடம்பவனேஸ்வரர் திருக்கோயில்
Lord Shiva · Kulithalai, Tamil Nadu
Ancient
About the temple
The 1st Paadal Petra Sthalam of the Southern Bank of Kaveri in Chola realm; where Sage Kanva worshipped Shiva in a forest of Kadamba trees; key vertex of the celebrated "Three Darshan Circuit" (worshipping Kadambavaneswarar at Kulithalai in the morning, Rathnagiriswarar at Thiruvathigai/Ayyarmalai at noon, and Thirueengoimalai in the evening grants salvation); famed for granting relief from severe debts and mental stress. Traditional belief: Morning worship bestows freedom from debts (Kadan Nivarthi), cures chronic ailments, eliminates fear of premature death, and grants longevity.
Temple information
- Darshan timings
- 06:00 – 20:30
- Established
- 7
- Best time to visit
- Early morning hours on mid-week non-festival days to experience a peaceful darshan atmosphere
Deity
Lord Shiva · ଶିବ (Shiva)Ganesha Family
- Deity form
- Ancient Swayambhu Shiva Lingam located under the sacred Kadamba tree (Neolamarckia cadamba) in the inner stone sanctum
- Religious tradition
- Vedic Agamic Shaiva Siddhanta & "Morning Kaveri Darshan" Circuit
- Sanskrit name
- श्री कदम्बवनेश्वर मन्दिरम्
- Also known as
- Kulithalai Shiva Temple, Kadambanthurai Temple, Morning Darshan Temple of Cauvery
Darshan hours
- Daily
- 06:00 AM - 12:30 PM, 04:00 PM - 08:30 PM
- Break timings
- 12:30 PM - 04:00 PM
- Special days
- Thai Poosam (8-Day Float Festival), Maha Shivaratri: 04:30 AM - 11:30 PM
- Festival timings
- Open till 11:30 PM on Thai Poosam and Maha Shivaratri
Aarti & rituals
- Morning aarti
- 07:00 AM
- Midday aarti
- 12:00 PM
- Evening aarti
- 06:30 PM
- Night aarti
- 8:15 PM
- Special aarti days
- Every Monday, Pradosham, Maha Shivaratri, Thai Poosam
- Ritual schedule
- Nitya Chatukkala Puja, Rudrabhishekam, Kaveri Theerthavari, Saptamatrika worship, Sandhya Deeparadhana
- Pooja timings
- 06:30 AM - 12:00 PM, 04:30 PM - 08:00 PM
- Abhishek timings
- 07:00 AM - 08:30 AM
- Special poojas
- Available
- Online pooja booking
- No
History & heritage
- Historical period
- Ancient
- Built by
- Early Cholas; reconstructed in stone by Chola King Parantaka I and Rajaraja Chola I
- Architect / builder
- Master traditional Chola stone sculptors
- Construction materials
- Solid dressed dark granite stone blocks, brick-lime Rajagopuram, brass flagstaff
- Historical events
- Celebrated in Thevaram hymns by Saint Appar; ancient Sangam chieftaincy and trade node on the southern bank of Kaveri
- Renovations
- Protected and renovated under Tamil Nadu HR&CE Department with new granite stone pathways, lighting, and restored river bathing steps
- Archaeological importance
- Priceless Paadal Petra Sthalam monument preserving ancient Chola and Pandya stone inscriptions
- Legends
- The celebrated tradition: "Kalai Kadamban, Madhi Chokkan, Andhi Thirueengoimalayan" (Worship Kadamban at Kulithalai in the morning, Chokkanathan at Ayyarmalai at noon, and Shiva at Thirueengoimalai in the evening to achieve liberation)
- Inscriptions
- More than 25 stone inscriptions in Tamil dating from the 10th to 15th century recording grants by Chola and Pandya kings
Architecture
- Architectural style
- Dravidian
- Architectural period
- Circa 950 - 1050 CE
- Structure
- Spacious walled riverfront temple complex with five-tiered entrance Rajagopuram, pillared navaranga, inner sanctum, Bala Kujambal shrine, and Kaveri river bathing steps
- Floors
- 1
- Gopuram
- Five-tiered 65-foot entrance Rajagopuram embellished with stucco sculptures of Shaivite puranic legends
- Mandapa
- Pillared Mukhamandapa and Mahamandapa supported by massive square granite columns depicting yalis and Nayanmar saints
- Sculptural features
- Ancient stone Shiva Lingam under Kadamba tree; graceful standing Bala Kujambal Amman; stone Saptamatrikas; carved stone Nandi
- Artistic elements
- Intricate makara toranas, deep-cut devakoshta niches, and embossed silver sanctum frames
- Construction technique
- Dry-stone interlocking granite block masonry of durable Chola execution along the riverbank
- Unique features
- Its position as the morning temple in the sacred Three-Temple Kaveri circuit, and the sacred Kadamba sthala vriksham tree
Festivals & events
- Festival calendar
- Thai month Poosam, Magha Bahula Chaturdashi (Shivaratri)
- Special celebration days
- Every Monday, Pradosham, New Moon days
- Cultural events
- Thevaram parayanam, classical music, and massive riverbed float festivals during Thai Poosam
- Annual events
- The grand Thai Poosam 8-Temple Confluence Festival drawing over 100,000 devotees to the Kaveri riverbed
- Peak crowd season
- October to February and during Thai Poosam festival
Visitor information
- ✓ Parking
- ✓ Restrooms
- ✓ Drinking water
- ✓ Shoe keeping
- ✓ Prasadam counter
- Dress code
- Traditional
- Best time to visit
- Early morning hours on mid-week non-festival days to experience a peaceful darshan atmosphere
- Parking capacity
- 50+ vehicles
- Parking fees
- Approx. 20-50 INR
- Donation counters
- Yes
- Donation methods
- Cash, UPI, Bank Transfer
- Prasadam
- Vibhuti/Kumkum.