Ponmalainathar Temple, located on the 500 ft high hillock at
Devikapuram in
Thiruvannamalai District, is dedicated to
Lord Shiva. The specialty of this temple is that the consort of the Lord Ponmalainathar, Goddess Periyanayaki, has a separate shrine for at the foot of the hill. One can reach the temple by climbing about 302 steps. The temple has a 36 pillar mandapam at the entrance and a three tiered
Rajagopuram. The temple also houses a balipeetam, a kodimaram, and the image of Nandidevar. The images of both Ponmalainathar and Kasiviswanathar are seen sainted together in the main sanctum. The prakaram holds the images of Saptamadar,
Dakshinamoorthy, Koshtavinayakar,
Subramanya, and Chandikeshwarar. It also has various carvings and sculptural works.
Shivratri is the main festival celebrated here. Monthly pournami puja are also special in the temple. The temple can be accessed from Pollur, about 11 km away.
