Vedavaneshwarar Temple is located at
Vedaranyam in
Nagapattinam District. Dedicated to
Lord Shiva, the temple has the presiding deity, Maraikkaadanaar or Vedaranyar. The lingam found here is
swayambhu.
Lord Shiva and
Parvati appear in the bridal posture behind the lingam. The temple is one of the 64 Sakthi Peetams of Ambal. Legend has it that that
Lord Ram took bath here and worshipped Shiva on his successful return to Ayodhya. It is said that
the Pandavas have installed the Pancha Lingams here.
The idol of Goddess Saraswati is found holding an 'ettu suvadi' (palm leaf book) instead of a veena. A separate shrine for
Goddess Durga is also housed within the temple. The temple faces the east and has pillared halls with beautiful images. Other attractive features are the images of the 12 zodiac signs and the 27 asterisms. Manikarnigai, the bathing ghat, lies in the southeast of the temple.
