Swetaranyeswarar Temple, located at Tiruvengadu near
Chidambaram, is dedicated to
Lord Shiva and is called Budhasthalam, or abode of the celestial body, Mercury. There are several shrines here of great religious importance, including those of
Durga, Kali and Aghoramurthy. Numerous pilgrims visit this temple every year.
In the temple yard is a sacred banyan tree, considered indestructible. The Soma
Teertham and Surya Teertham - pools of the moon and the sun - also have legendary significance.
Chola inscriptions of the 9th-11th centuries are found in the temple. The architectural design of the temple and its bronze images including that of
Nataraja are vestiges of a rich cultural past.
