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Vedaranyam temple
Vedaranyam which is called in devaram as Tirumaraikkaadu is one of the Sapthavidanga Sthalams of Lord Shiva. The Sivalingam of the presiding male deity Maraikattunathar is a Swayambu Lingam. The shrine for Thyagesar is also very famous here. The temple with a 5 tier gopuram is facing east. The main shrine for Lord Vedaranyeswarar is facing east. The Manikarnigai Theertham (tank) inside this temple is considered to be very sacred because it is believed that a holy bath in this well is equivalent to taking bath in the sacred rivers of Ganges, Yamuna, Narmada, Cauvery etc. The presiding female deity's shrine is also facing east and She is known as Yazhinum Iniya Mozhiyal in Tamil which means that the voice of the Goddess is sweeter and melodious than the sound of Veena (a musical instrument). Hence it is pertinent to note that the Shrine for Saraswathi in this temple is different in the sense that Goddess Saraswathi is seen here without her Veena in her laps as normally seen everywhere. There are also shrines for Lord Muruga and Goddess Durgai. Navagrahas in this temple can be seen standing in a straight line. Lord Shiva is believed to have given the vision of His marriage with Parvati to Sage Agasthiyar at this sthalam. The marriage of Lord Shiva with Parvati is depicted as a stucco image behind the main Sivalingam inside the sanctum sanctorum. Sage Agasthiyar, Gowthamar, Viswamitrar, Vashistar, and Lord Brahma are reported to have worshipped Lord Shiva at this thalam.