Avinashi Lingeswarar Temple

Avinashi Lingeswarar Temple is a Hindu Shiva temple located in Avinashi town, Tiruppur District, Tamil Nadu. Dedicated to Lord Shiva as Avinashi Lingeswarar and Goddess Karunambigai, it is one of the 275 Paadal Petra Sthalams praised in Tevaram hymns. Notable for its large lingam, Dravidian architecture, expansive temple tank and historic chariot, the temple is an important pilgrimage centre in the Kongu Nadu region.

Visitors can expect a large Dravidian-style temple complex with gopurams, pillared mandapams, a spacious courtyard and a temple tank. The main sanctum houses the Shiva lingam with shrine for Goddess Karunambigai. The surroundings include stone inscriptions, sculpted pillars, subsidiary shrines and a massive wooden temple chariot housed nearby. The atmosphere is devotional with daily pujas, darshan queues and shops selling offerings outside the entrance.

The temple is believed to have origins in the Chola period with later contributions from Kongu Cholas, Hoysalas, Vijayanagara and Mysore rulers. Inscriptions found in the temple refer to various dynasties. It is historically known as Thirupukkoliyur and is mentioned in 7th-9th century Tevaram hymns, indicating its antiquity as a major Shaivite centre in Kongu Nadu.

The temple is one of the seven Tevara Sthalams in Kongu Nadu and one of the 275 Paadal Petra Sthalams, highly revered by Shaivites. It is associated with the legend of saint Sundarar who is said to have revived a boy devoured by a crocodile through his hymns. The annual Brahmotsavam and the Avinashi chariot festival are major cultural and religious events attracting large numbers of devotees.