The Paadal Petra Thalam are 275 temples that are revered in the verses of Saiva Nayanars in the 6th-9th century CE and are amongst the greatest Shiva temples of the continent. The Divya Desams by comparison are the 108 Vishnu temples glorified in the poems of the contemporary Vaishnava Alvars of Tamil Nadu, India
Thevaram
The 3 foremost Nayanars with Manikkavacakar – collectively called the Nalvars: (from left) Sambandar, Appar, Sundarar, Manikkavacakar.
Thevaram literally means “garland of divine songs” and refers to the collection of verses sung praising Shiva, the primary god of the Shaivite sect of Hindu religion, by three Tamil poets known as Saiva Kuruvars – Thirugnana Sambanthar, Tirunavukkarasar (aka Appar) and Sundaramoorthy Nayanar (aka Sundarar). The three are considered the primary three among the sixty three Nayanmars of the Saivite sect of Hinduism. The former two lived during the 7th century CE while the latter around 8th century CE. All songs in Thevaram are believed to be in sets of ten songs, called pathikam in Tamil. Some musical experts consider Thevaram as a divine musical form. There is a common view that Sanskritization of names of the temples are carried out in later period that superseded the names mentioned in Thevaram – some of the common examples are Chidambaram as against Tillai in Thevaram and Kumbakonam as against Kudanthai.
The 275 temples that are mentioned in Thevaram are referred as Paadal Petra Thalam, meaning the temples that were sung in the verses. On the contrary, Vaippu Thalam are temples that were mentioned casually in the songs in Thevaram and lacking a mention of those temples. In modern times, the verses of Tevaram are sung daily and during the festive occasions in most Shiva temples in Tamil Nadu by musicians called Odhuvars.
Thiruvasagam
Manikkavacakar is considered the 4th in the line of Saiva Kuravars, whose verses are classified as Thiruvasagam. There is a saying that “Thiruvasagathuku urugar, oru vasagathukum orugar” meaning the person who does not budge for thiruvasagam won’t budge for anything else.
Paadal Petra Thalangal
There are around 275 temples that are revered by the verses of Saiva Nayanars and are amongst the greatest Shiva Temples of Tamil Nadu. In Tamil Nadu there are 265 temples, 2 temples in Andhra pradesh, 1 temple in kerala, 1 temple in karnataka, 2 temples in Uttarakhand, 2 temples in Sri Lanka, 1 temple in Nepal, and Tirukayilaayam in Mount Kailash. The list is as shown below.
| Chola Nadu – North of Kaveri | Chola Nadu – South of Kaveri | Eezha Nadu | Pandya Nadu | Malai Nadu |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Kovil(Chidambaram) 2. Tiruvetkalam 3. Tirunelvayil 4. Tirukkazhippalai 5. Tirunallurpperumanam 6. Mahendrapalli 7. Ten Tirumullaivayil 8. Kalikkaamoor 9. Tiruchaaikaadu 10. Pallavaneeswaram 11. Thiruvenkadu 12. Keezhai Tirukkattuppalli 13. Thirukkurugavur 14. Sirkazhi 15. Tirukkolakka 16. Pullirukkuvelur (Vaideeswaran Koyil) 17. Kannaar Kovil 18. Tirukkadaimudi 19. Tiruninriyur 20. Tiruppunkur 21. Tiruneedur 22. Anniyur 23. Tiruvelvikudi 24. Edirkolpaadi 25. Tirumanancheri 26. Tirukkurukkai 27. Karuppariyalur 28. Kurakkukka 29. Tiruvaalkoliputrur 30. Tirumannippadikkarai 31. Omampuliyur 32. Tirukkaanaattumulloor 33. Tirunaarayur 34. Kadambur 35. Pandanallur 36. Kanjanoor 37. Tirukkodikka 38. Tirumangalakkudi 39. Tiruppanantaal 40. Tiruvaappaadi 41. Tirucheignalur 42. Tirundudevankudi 43. Tiruviyalur 44. Kottaiyur 45. Innambar 46. Thirupirambiyam 47. Vijayamangai 48. Tiruvaikavur 49. Vadakurangaaduturai 50. Tiruppazhanam 51. Thiruvaiyaru 52. Tiruneittanam 53. Tirupperumpuliyur 54. Thirumazhapadi 55. Tiruppazhuvur (Aalanturai) 56. Tirukkaanoor 57. Anbilalanturai 58. Tirumaanturai 59. Tiruppaatrurai 60. Tiru Aanaikkaa 61. Tiruppainneeli 62. Tiruppaachilasramam 63. Tiruveengoimalai |
1. Vaatpokki 2. Kadambar Kovil 3. Thirupparaithurai 4. Tirukkarkudi (Uyyakkondan Malai) 5. Thirumukeeswaram 6. Tiruchirappalli 7. Tiruverumbur 8. Nedunkalam 9. Melaittirukkattuppalli 10. Tiruvalampozhil 11. Tiruppoonturutti 12. Thirukkandiyur 13. Tiruchotrutturai 14. Tiruvedikudi 15. Tenkudittittai 16. Tirupullamangai 17. Tiruchakrapalli 18. Thirukkarugavur 19. Tiruppaalaitturai(Papanasam) 20. Tirunallur 21. Aavoor Pasupateeswaram 22. Satthi Mutram 23. Patteswaram 24. Pazhayarai 25. Tiruvalanchuzhi 26. Adi Kumbeswarar Temple 27. Tirukkudandai Keezhkottam 28. Kudandaikkaaronam 29. Tirunageswaram 30. Tiruvidaimarudur 31. Ten Kurangaaduturai 32. Tiruneelakkudi 33. Tiruvaikalmaadakkovil 34. Tirunallam 35. Tirukkozhambam 36. Tiruvavaduturai 37. Tirutturutti 38. Tiruvazhundur 39. Mayiladuturai 40. Viilanagar 41. Tiruppariyalur 42. Tiruchemponpalli 43. Tirunanipalli 44. Tiruvalampuram 45. Tiruttalaichankadu 46. Aakkoor 47. Tirukkadavur 48. Tirukkadavur Mayaanam 49. Tiruvettakkudi 50. Tiruttelicheri 51. Dharumapuram 52. Thirunallar 53. Tirukkottaru 54. Ambar 55. Ambar Maakaalam 56. Tirumeeyachur 57. Tirumeeyachur Ilamkovil 58. Thilataipati 59. Tiruppaampuram 60. Sirukudi 61. Tiruveezhimizhalai 62. Tiruvanniyur 63. Karuvili Kottittai 64. Penu Perunturai 65. Naraiyur 66. Arisirkaraiputtur 67. Sivapuram 68. Kalayanallur 69. Tirukkarukkudi 70. Tiruvanchiyam 71. Nannilam 72. Tirukkondeeswaram 73. Tiruppanaiyur 74. Virkudi 75. Tiruppugalur 76. Tiruppugalur Vardhamaneswaram 77. Ramanadeeswaram 78. Tiruppayatrankudi 79. Tiruchenkattankudi 80. Thirumarugal 81. Tiruchaattamangai 82. Nagaikkaronam 83. Sikkal 84. Keevalur 85. Tiruttevur 86. Palliyin Mukkoodal 87. Achaleswaram 88. Tiruvarur 89. Arurparavaiumandali 90. Vilamar 91. Karaveeram 92. Peruvelur 93. Talaiyalankadu 94. Tirukkudavaayil 95. Tirucherai 96. Tirunalurmayaanam 97. Kaduvaaikaaraiputhur 98. Tiruvirumpoolai 99. Aradaipperumpazhi 100.Avalivanallur 101.Paridiniyamam 102. Tiruvenniyur (Koyil venni) 103. Tiruppoovanur 104. Paadaaleeswaram 105. Tirukkalar 106. Tiruchitremam 107. Tiru Usaattaanam 108. Tiruidumbavanam 109. Kadikkulam 110. Tandalaineeneri 111. Kottur 112. Vanduturai 113. Tirukkollampudur 114. Pereyil 115. Tirukkollikkadu 116. Tenkoor 117. Tirunellikka 118. Tirunatyattankudi 119. Tirukkarayil 120. Kanraappur 121. Valivalam 122. Kaichinam 123. Tirukkolili 124. Tiruvaimur 125. Tirumaraikkadu 126. Tiru Agathiyan Palli 127. Kodikkarai 128. Kiliyanur 129. Tiruvidaivai |
1. Tirukkonamalai 2. Tirukketheeswaram |
1. Aalavaai (Madurai) 2. Aappudaiyaar Kovil 3. Tirupparankunram 4. Tiruvedakam 5. Tirukkodunkunram 6. Tirupputhur 7. Thiruppunavayil 8. Rameswaram 9. Tiruvadanai 10. Tirukkaanapper 11. Tiruppoovanam 12. Thiruchuzhial 13. Thirukutralam 14. Tirunelveli |
1. Thiruvanchikulam |
| Kongu Nadu | Nadu Nadu | Tondai Nadu | Erumai Nadu | Vada Nadu |
| 1. Avinaasi 2. Thirumuruganpoondi 3. Thirunana 4. Kodimadachenkunoor 5. Venchamaakoodal 6. Paandikkodumudi 7. Karuvoor Aanilai |
1. Tirunelvayil Aratturai 2. Pennaagadam 3. Goodalaiyatrur 4. Erukkattampuliyur 5. Tiruttinai Nagar 6. Tiruchopuram 7. Tiruvatikai 8. Thirunaavalur 9. Tirumudukunram 10. Tirunelvennei 11. Tirukkovilur 12. Arankandanallur 13. Tiruvidaiyaru 14. Thiruvennainallur 15. Tirutturaiyur 16. Vatukur 17. Tirumaanikkuzhi 18. Thirupathiripuliyur 19. Tirumundeeswaram 20. Puravaar Panankattur 21. Tiruvamathur 22. Tiruvannamalai |
1. Kachi Ekambam 2. Kachi Metrali 3. Onakanthan Thali 4. Kachi Anekatangavadam 5. Kachi Nerikkaaraikkadu 6. Kuranganilmuttam 7. Tirumaagaral 8. Tiruvothur 9. Panankattur 10. Tiruvallam 11. Thirumarperu 12. Tiruvooral, Takkolam 13. Ilambayankottur 14. Tiruvirkolam 15. Thiruvalangadu 16. Tiruppaasur 17. Tiruvenpakkam 18. Tirukkallil 19. Sri Kalahasti 20. Thiruvotriyur 21. Tiruvalithayam 22. Vada Tirumullaivayil 23. Thiruverkadu 24. Tirumayilai 25. Thiruvanmiyur 26. Tirukkachoor 27. Tiruvidaichuram 28. Tirukkalunkunram 29. Tiru Acharapakkam 30. Tiruvakkarai 31. Arasili 32. Irumbai Maakalam |
1. Gokarnam | 1.Indraneelaparvatam (Nepal) 2. Srisailam 3. Anekatangavadam (Gowrikund) 4. Tirukkedaram (Kedarnath) 5. Tirukkayilaayam (Mount Kailash) |
Pancha Bootha Thalangal
This refers to the temples that are the manifestation of the five elements – Land, water, air, sky, fire.
| Category | Temple | Location |
| Land | Ekambareswarar Temple | Kanchipuram |
| Fire | Arunachaleshwarar Temple | Thiruvannamalai |
| Water | Thiruvanaikaval | Trichy |
| Sky | Chidambaram Temple | Chidambaram |
| Air | Sri Kalahastheeswara Swami Temple | Kalahasthi, Andhra Pradesh |
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Ekambareswarar Temple, Kanchipuram(Land)
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Arunachaleshwarar Temple, Thiruvannamalai(Fire)
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Thiruvanaikaval temple, Trichy(Water)
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Chidambaram temple, Chidambaram(Sky)
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Kalahsti Temple(Air)
Pancha Bhoota stalam Map
Pancha Sabhai Thalangal
The temples where Shiva is believed to have performed the Cosmic Dance.
| Category | Temple | Location | Element |
| Rathinachabai | Vada aaranyeswarar Temple | Thiruvalangadu | Emerald |
| Porchabai | Natarajar Temple | Chidambaram | Gold |
| Vellichabai | Meenakshi Amman Temple | Madurai | Silver |
| Thamirachabai | Nellaiappar Temple | Tirunelveli | Copper |
| Chithirachabai | Kutralanathar Temple | Thirukutralam | Art |
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Thiruvalangadu temple, Chennai
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Chidambaram
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Madurai Temple
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Tirunelveli temple
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Thirukutralam
Pancha Sabhai Map
Ashta Veerattam Thalangal
The temples where Shiva is believed to have performed with fury. The eight temples are in 1. Thiruvadhikai 2. Thirukoyilur 3. Thirukkadayur 4. Vazhoovur 5. Thirukkurakaval ( kurukkai ) 6. Thiruppaliyalur 7. Thirukandiyur 8. Thiruvirkudi.
| Temple | Location | District | Image |
| Tiruvadigai Veerattaaneswarar Temple | Tiruvadigai, Panruti | Cuddalore district |
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| Korukkai Veeratteswarar Temple | Tirukurukkai | Nagapattinam district |
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| Tirukkovilur Veerateshwarar Temple | Tirukoilur | Tiruvannamalai district |
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| Amirtagateswarar Temple | Thirukadaiyur | Nagapattinam district |
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| Vazhuvur Verateswarar Temple | Vazhuvoor, Mayiladuthurai | Nagapattinam district |
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| Keelaparasalur Veerateswarar Temple | Tirupariyalur | Nagapattinam district |
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| Kandeeswarar Temple | Thirukkandiyur | Thanjavur district |
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| Tiruvirkudi Veerataneswarar Temple | Thiruvirkudi | Thiruvarur district |
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Saptha Vidangam
The Thyagarajar Temple at Tiruvarur is famous for the ajapa natanam (dance without chanting), that is executed by the deity itself. According to legend, a Chola king named Mucukunta obtained a boon from Indra (a celestial deity) and wished to receive an image of Thyagaraja Swamy (presiding deity, Shiva in the temple) reposing on the chest of reclining Vishnu. Indra tried to misguide the king and had six other images made, but the king chose the right image at Tiruvarur. The other six images were installed in ThiruNallaaru, Nagapattinam, Tirukarayil, Tirukolili, Thiruvaaimur and Tirumaraikadu. All the seven places are villages situated in the river Cauvery delta. All seven Thyagaraja images are said to dance when taken in procession(it is the bearers of the processional deity who actually dance). The temples with dance styles are regarded as Saptha Vidangam (seven dance moves) and the related temples are as under:
| Temple | Vidangar Temple | Dance pose | Meaning |
| Thyagarajar Temple, Tiruvarur | Vidhividangar | Ajaba Natanam | Dance without chanting, resembling the dance of Sri Thyagaraja resting on Vishnu’s chest |
| Dharbaranyeswarar Temple, Tirunallar | Nagaravidangar | Unmatha natanam | Dance of an intoxicated person |
| Kayarohanaswamy Temple, Nagapattinam | Sundaravidangar | Vilathi natanam | Dancing like waves of sea |
| Kannayariamudayar Temple, Thirukarayil | Adhividangar | Kukuda natanam | Dancing like a cock |
| Brahmapureeswarar Temple, Thirukkuvalai | Avanividangar | Brunga natanam | Dancing like a bee that hovers over a flower |
| Vaimoornaathar Temple, Tiruvaimur | Nallavidangar | Kamala natanam | Dance like lotus that moves in a breeze |
| Vedaranyeswarar Temple, Vedaranyam | Bhuvanivividangar | Hamsapatha natanam | Dancing with the gait of a swan |
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Thyagarajar Temple
Saptha Stanam
The sapthasthanam festival is conducted at Tiruvaiyaru during April every year. Hundreds of people witness the convergence of seven glass palanquins carrying principal deities of respective temples from seven places at Tiruvaiyaru. The palanquins are paraded near the car stand, the crowd witnessed the Poochorithal(flower festival) in which a doll offers flowers to the principal deities in the palanquins. After the Poochorithal, the palanquins leave for their respective places. The seven temples are
| Temple | Place | District |
| Aiyarappar temple | Thiruvaiyaru | Thanjavur |
| Apathsahayar Temple | Tirupazhanam | Thanjavur |
| Odhanavaneswarar Temple | Tiruchotruthurai | Thanjavur |
| Vedapuriswarar Temple | Thiruvedhikudi | Thanjavur |
| Kandeeswarar Temple | Thirukkandiyur | Thanjavur |
| Puvananathar Temple | Thirupanturuthi | Thanjavur |
| Neyyadiappar Temple | Tiruneithaanam | Thanjavur |
Saptha Mangai Stalangal
The seven temples are
| Temple | Presiding deity/consort | Mangai | Location |
| Chakravageshwarar Temple | Chakravageshwarar/Devanayagi | Chakramangai | Chakkarapalli, Thanjavur |
| Arimutheeswarar Temple | Arimutheeswarar/Gnambikai | Harimangai | Ariyamangai, Thanjavur |
| Krithivageswarar temple | Krithivageswarar/Alangaravalli | Soolamangai | Soolamangalam, Thanjavur |
| Jambugeswarar Temple | Jambugeswarar/Akilandeswari | Nandimangai | Tirupullamangai, Thanjavur |
| Pasumangai Temple | Pasupatiswarar/Palvalainayagi | Pasumangai | Thirukkandiyur, Thanjavur |
| Chandramouleeswarar Temple | Chandramouleeswarar/Rajarajeswari | Thazhamangai | Thazhamangai, Thanjavur |
| Tirupullamangai Temple | Alandurainathar/Soundaranayagi | Pullamangai | Pullamangai, Thanjavur |
Aathara Stalam
Aathara Stalam indicates the places which are considered to be diving impersonification of Tantric chakras associated with human anatomy. Annamalaiyar temple is called the Manipooraga stalam associated with Manipooraga the human anatomical cause for spiritual ignorance, thirst, jealousy, treachery, shame, fear, disgust, delusion, foolishness and sadness. 4 temples are located in Tamil Nadu, one in Andhra Pradesh, and one at Varanasi.
| Tantric Chakra | Description | Temple | Location | Symbol |
| Anthagam (Sanskrit: आज्ञा, ājñā ) |
Brain directly behind eyebrow | Natarajar Temple | Chidambaram | |
| Visuthi (Sanskrit: विशुद्ध, Viśuddha) |
Neck region near spine | Sri Kalahastheeswara Swami Temple | Kalahasthi | |
| Anahata (Sanskrit: अनाहत, Anāhata) |
Central channel behind spine | Kashi Vishwanath Temple | Varanasi |  |
| Manipooragam (Sanskrit: मणिपूर, Maṇipūra) |
Spine directly behind the navel | Arunachaleshwarar Temple | Thiruvannamalai |  |
| Swathistanam (Sanskrit: स्वाधिष्ठान, Svādhiṣṭhāna) |
One’s own abode | Thiruvanaikaval | Trichy |  |
| Moolatharam (Sanskrit: मूलाधार, Mūlādhāra) |
Basal end of the spinal | Thyagaraja Swamy Temple | Tiruvarur |  |
Gallery
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Thyagaraja Temple, Tiruvarur
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Rameshwaram temple
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Rockfort temple, Trichy
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