ABOUT

The presiding deity in this temple is Lord Shiva (Atmanadhar). It is one among the 275 Paadal Petra Sthalam (Temples sung by 64 Nayanmars). Manikavasagar was one of the four important Tamil saints of Saivism (Lord Shiva worship) out of 63 Nayanmars (63 important saints of Shiva). We can see the idols of all the 63 saints in most of the Shiva temples in South India. Four saints among them are in separate shrines or in a higher platform in some temples who were called as Nalvar (Important four). Manikavasagar is one of them. Avudaiyarkoil temple is connected to the history of Saint Manikavasagar. The King Arimardhana Pandian of Madurai asked his minister Thiruvadhavoorar to buy horses and gave him money. The minister came to the place named Perunthurai to buy horses. He heard the chanting of Shiva agamas. On searching, He found a saint seated beneath a Kurungai tree. He then requested the saint to initiate him into divine wisdom. The saint did so and vanished. Manikkavasagar concluded that the Lord Shiva himself had come to help him. So he built a temple for the Lord here.