Location : Vada Kurangaduturai Is Located North Of River Kaveri And Ten Kurandagudurai Is Located South Of River Kaveri, Tamil Nadu
Significance : Two Important Shivasthalams
Festivals Celebrated : Arudra Darisanam, Navaratri and Shivaratri

Ten Kurangaaduturai (Aaduturai) and Vada Kurangaaduturai are the two important Shivastalams, where Sugreevan and Vaali are believed to have worshipped Lord Shiva. Vada Kurangaduturai is known so because of its location, north of the river Kaveri, near Tiruvaiyaru. Ten Kurandagudurai gets its name from its location south of the river Kaveri.

Hanuman and Sugreeva worshipped Lord Shiva here, and Shiva is said to have revealed a vision of his cosmic dance to Sugreeva. It is also believed that Rama killed Vaali at Ten Kurangaaduturai. It is believed that Hanuman who is said to have lost his tail at Rameshwaram regained it at Vada Kurangaaduturai.

Ten Kurangaaduturai was rebuilt by Sembiyan Mahadevi - the Chola queen (10th century); in the rebuilt structure, earlier inscriptions from the older structure were re-engraved. This temple with 2 Prakarams has a large RajaGopuram. The niche images here are those of Vinayaka (also spelt as Vinayak), Nataraja, Agastya, Dakshinamurti, LinGodbhava, Bhrama, Bhikshatana, Alinganamurti (Lord Shiva and Parvati) and Durga. The sun's rays illuminate the sanctum for three days in a year. Festivals celebrated here include Arudra Darisanam, Navaratri and Shivaratri.

Vada Kurangaaduturai was adminstered by the Thanjavur Royal Palace. A 5-tiered RajaGopuram adorns the entrance to this temple with 2 Prakarams and a spacious front courtyard. Stucco figures representing the legends associated are seen in this temple and a stone image of Vaali worshipping Lord Shiva adorns the sanctum. Inscriptions from the Imperial Chola period are seen in this temple. Stone images of Nataraja and Shivakami adorn the Natarajar Sabhai shrine also known as "Aadi Chidambaram, Naalikeravanam".

HOW TO GET THERE

Rail : The nearest railway station is at Kumbakonam.

Road : There are regular buses from Kumbakonam to these temples. Kumbakonam is just five and a half hours drive from Chennai and two and half hours drive from Trichy.

WHERE TO STAY
Accommodation is available at the ecomomy class hotels, lodges, and devasthanam cottages in Kumbakonam.