This is a list of temples in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Tamil Nadu is the state with the highest amount of temples in India. According to the Tamil Nadu Hindu Endowments Board, there are 390,615 Hindu temples in the state. Many of these temples are over 800 years old and are spread across the state. These temples were built over centuries by the rulers of various dynasties.
The state holds some of the largest Hindu temples. Historical records for the temple date back to at least 3,000 years ago. In Indian and Tamil culture, temples are not only considered as a place for spirituality but also shows the way of living, art, culture, knowledge, and sacrifice of people's life to protect the temples from invaders. Many temples contain inscriptions detailing the democratic rule of kings, which later inspired India's modern voting system.
Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple, dedicated to Maha Vishnu, is located in Srirangam. It is the largest temple compound in India and one of the largest religious complexes in the world. Some of these structures have been renovated, expanded and rebuilt over the centuries as a living temple. The latest addition is the outer tower that is approximately tall and was completed in 1987. The temple is an active Hindu house of worship and follows the Tenkalai tradition of Sri Vaishnavism. The temple is one of the oldest temples in the world, which consists of inscriptions dating around 100 BCE. The annual 21-day festival conducted during the Tamil month of Margali (December–January) attracts at least one million visitors every year. The temple complex has been nominated as an UNESCO World Heritage Site and is in UNESCO's tentative list.Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple, Srirangam, UNESCO
Other temples like Madurai's Kallalagar temple — which has high Gopuram towers ornamented with colourful figures — and the Meenakshi Temple, which has high colourful towers and great long halls, are also of note. On Pamban Island, Ramanathaswamy Temple is a pilgrimage site. The town of Kanyakumari, at India's southernmost tip, is the site of ritual sunrises.
The state also abounds with temple tanks. The state has 2,359 temple tanks located in 1,586 temples. The government has identified 1,068 tanks for renovation.
Temples of Ganesha S.NoName of TempleName of DeityLocation (Travel Base)Built aroundNotes/Beliefs 1 Karpaka Vinayakar Temple Karpaka Vinayakar Pillayarpatti (Karaikkudi) 7th century CE P.K. Nambiar and K.C. Narayana Kurup (1961), Temples of Madras State, Census of India Volume IX, Part XI-D (vi), Government of India, pp. 196–198 One of only two temples in the world that show Ganesha with two arms. The other is in Afghanistan.Sivashankar Chandrasekaran, "The Wonder that is Pillaiyarpatti"2 Ucchi Pillayar Temple Uchhi Pillayar Tiruchirappalli 700-900 CE Ganesha is shown with a small bump on his head, which was caused when Vibhishana knuckled him on his head. 3 Manakula Vinayagar Temple Manakula Vinayagar Pondicherry (Puducherry) 1688 CE Named as Bhuvaneshar Ganapathy, now called as Manakula Vinayagar. In Tamil 'Manal' means sand and 'Kulam' means pond near the sea, meaning God near the pond of sand.4 Uchchhishta Ganapathy Temple Uchchhishta Ganapati Tirunelveli 1000 CE The only big ancient temple more than 1000 years ago for Uchishtta Ganapathy is situated in Manimoortheeswaram on the banks of River Thamirabarani in Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu, India. 5 Sri Poyyamozhi Vinayagar Temple Sri Poyyamozhi Swayambu Vinayagar Theevanur (NH 66 (Krishnagiri-Pondicherry National Highway), Tindivanam, Tamil Nadu) 1100 CE Swayambu Vinayaka temple with a Ganesha that looks like Siva Lingam. Very Powerful deity that cures all diseases, gives boon for power and position6 Meenakshi Temple Mukkuruni Vinayakar Madurai 1600 CE This popular Ganesha shrine is located inside the Madurai Meenakshi Temple.7 Adi vinayagar Temple Adi vinayagar Poonthottam (Thiruvarur) 700 CE The name Thilatharpanapuri comes from two words thil meaning Gingely and tharpana is the Hindu ritual of performing pithru karmas (ritual of paying tribute to ancestors) to one's ancestors. It is also known as Sethalapathy. There are 7 sthalams for performing these rituals viz. Kasi, Rameswaram, Srivanchiyam, Thiruvenkadu, Gaya, Triveni Sangamam & Thilatharpanapuri.8 Abhishtavaradha Ganapathi Temple Abhishtavaradha Ganapathi Thiruvaiyaru (Tanjavur) - Agastya attained his dwarf form at this abode.9 Naramuga Vinayakar Temple Naramuga Vinayakar Chidambaram (Cuddalore) - The Ganesha idol is human-faced in this temple.10 Ganapatheeswarar Temple Vatapi Ganapathi Tiruchenkattankudi (Tanjavur) 700 CE The Ganesha idol was brought here from Vatapi by the Pallavas.11 Khabartheesar Karpaga Nathar Temple Sweta Vinayakar Tiruvalanchuzhi (Tanjavur) - The deity represents the white image of Ganesha that was formed when the Devas churned the holy milky ocean12 Eachanari Vinayagar Temple Ganesan Eachanari (Coimbatore) 1500 CE The deity was brought here from Madurai by the Nayaks, originally meant for Perur Temple.13 Puliakulam Vinayakar Temple Munthi Vinayakar Puliakulam (Coimbatore) 1993 CE The idol of the chief deity here is supposed to be one of the largest in South Asia.14 Sree Vigneswarar Temple Sree Vigneswar Mela Kolappadi-Andimadam (Ariyalur district) 1997 CE The idol of the chief deity here is supposed to be one of the largest in South Asia.15 Periya Uchipillaiyar Temple Uchhi Pillayar Periya Uchipillaiyar Temple (Kumbakonam) 1000 CE The temple is in the city centre of Kumbakonam.16 Sri Maha Ganapathi Temple Ganapathi Agraharam Sri Maha Ganapathi Temple near Kumbakonam 1000 years The temple is 25 km from Kumbakonam on Thiruvaiyaru bus route. The Vinayagar was actually installed at this temple by Agasthiyar (Ancient Hindu priest) more than 1000 years ago. He had done this with a holy intention of protecting the globe against of massive starvation. The Ganapathi idol has its own look, where this cannot be seen anywhere else.17Arulmigu Prasanna Vinayagar TempleSri Prasanna VinayagarArulmigu Prasanna Vinayagar Temple, Ganapathy Pudur Coimbatore1937 CEThe temple kumababishekam held on 1937 ganapathypudur in Coimbatore district Website:https://temple.dinamalar.com/New.php?id=218718Jambhulinga Vinayagar TempleSri Jambhulinga VinayagarJambhulinga Vinayagar Temple, Thathankuppam, Chennai1940 CEThe temple is known for a court case in which a statue responded to identify among the many were stolen19Panchamuga Vinayagar TempleSri Panchamuga VinayagarPanchamuga Vinayagar Temple, Paramathi Velur NamakkalThe temple where you will find 4 sides of face and on top of that one face of Vinayagar
Temples of Murugan
Six Abodes of Murugan S.No.Name of TempleName of DeityLocation (Travel Base)Built aroundNotes/Beliefs1 Tiruavinankudi TempleDandayudhapani SwamiPazhani(Dindigul)- This temple is the third among the six Holy Abodes. The Murugan idol was made by Bogar from an amalgam of nine toxic substances (Navabaashaanam)2Arulmigu Subramanya Swami TempleSenthil Andavar Tiruchendur(Thoothukkudi) 100 CEThis is the second among the six abodes and the only seashore Murugan temple. It is here that Surasamharam takes place, as this temple was Murugan's battle camp against the asura Surapadman who was being hosted at Vira Mahendram, a mid-ocean fortress.3Swamimalai Murugan TempleSwaminatha SwamySwamimalai(Thanjavur)- This temple is the fourth among the six Holy Abodes. Murugan explained the meaning of Omkaram to his father Shiva here.4 Tirupparankunram Murugan TempleSubramanya Swami Tirupparankunram(Madurai)- Murugan married Deivanai at this abode, also is the fourth among the Six Holy Abodes of Murugan5Tiruttanikai Murugan TempleTanikesanTiruttani(Tiruvallur)- Murugan married Valli at this abode. This temple is the fifth among the six Holy Abodes. Murugan imparted the knowledge of Tamil to Sage Agathiyar here6Pazhamudhircholai TempleMalaikkizhavonPazhamudhircholai(Madurai)- This temple is the last one of the six Holy Abodes. Murugan tested Avvaiyar's knowledge under a tree here
Other major Murugan temples Six Abodes of Murugan, the six sacred mountains of Tamil Nadu.