| Swetharanyeswarar Temple | |
|---|---|
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| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Hinduism |
| District | Mayiladuthurai |
| Deity | Swetharanyar (Shiva), Brahma Vidya (Parvathi) |
| Festivals | Tamil Masi Month 10 days |
| Location | |
| Location | Thiruvenkadu, Tamil Nadu, India |
| State | Tamil Nadu |
| Country |  India |
  Location in Tamil Nadu | |
| Geographic coordinates | 11°10′31″N 79°48′34″E / 11.17528°N 79.80944°E |
| Architecture | |
| Type | Dravidian |
| Completed | 1000-2000 years old |
Swetharanyeswarar Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to the deity Shiva, located in Thiruvenkadu, a village in Mayiladuthurai district in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Shiva is worshiped as Swetharanyeswarar, and is represented by the lingam. His consort Parvati is depicted as Brahmavidyambigai. The presiding deity is revered in the 7th-century-CE Tamil Saiva canonical work, the Tevaram, written by Tamil saint poets known as the Nayanars and classified as Paadal Petra Sthalam. It is significant to the Hindu sect of Saivism as one of the temples associated with the nine planet elements, the Navagraha Stalas, and specifically Budha.
The temple complex covers around two acres and entered through a seven-tiered gopuram, the main gateway. The temple has a number of shrines, with those of Swetharanyesarar, Aghora and that of Nataraja, being the most prominent. All the shrines and the three temple tanks of the temple are enclosed in large concentric rectangular granite walls.
The temple has six daily rituals at various times from 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., and four yearly festivals on its calendar. Chitra Pournami and Aani Thirumanjanam during the Tamil month of Aaani (June–July) are the most prominent festivals celebrated in the temple.
The original complex is believed to have been built by Cholas, while the present masonry structure was built by Vijayanagar kings during the 16th century. In modern times, the temple is maintained and administered by the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department of the Government of Tamil Nadu.