Pazhamalainathar Temple, Tirumudukundram (Virudhachalam)
| Location of the temple | Tirumudukundram |
| Lord Shiva known as | Pazhamalainathar, Virudhasalesar |
| Female deity known as | Periya Nayagi, Virudhaambikai |
| Pathigam | Thirunavukarasar, Sambandar, Sundarar |
| How to reach | This shivasthalam is located at Vridhachalam, which is about 215 Kms from Chennai. Viruddachalam can be reached by bus from most parts of Tamilnadu. Viruddachalam lies on the main train route from Chennai to Tiruchirapalli and can be reached by train from Chennai and Tiruchirapalli. |
| Temple address | Arulmighu Pazhamalainathar Temple Virudhachalam Virudhachalam Post Cuddalore District PIN 606001 |
Temple: The Shiva temple at Tirumudukundram is fairly a big one. The compound walls of the temple on all the four sides are of 26 feet height. It is 660 feet in length and 390 feet in breadth. 7 tier gopurams stand majestically on all the 4 sides. One must enter the temple via the east side entrance by passing through 16 pillared mandapam. In the first outer prakaram the shrine for Vinayakar is located at a depth of 18 feet and faces east. Periya Nayagi Ammai temple is located in the first outer prakaram on the north side and faces east having its own compund walls and a gopuram. Entering the 2nd prakaram one can see the Sthala Vriksham Vanni tree and scupltures of Utsavamurthy and Ambalakoothar. In the 3rd prakaram, the statues of 63 saivite nayanmars are kept. The shrine for Bindu Madhava Perumal is located in the 3rd prakaram. In the north-west corner of the 3rd prakaram, the shrine of female deity Virudhaambikai is located.
In the 4th innermost prakaram, the sanctum sanctorum of Pazhamalainathar is situated. Dwarpalakas (gatekeepers) statues are on both side of the entrance to the sanctum.
Sundarar stayed at this sivasthalam for a few days and composed Pathigams and got 12000 gold coins from Lord Shiva. When Sundarar desired that these gold coins are to be delivered to him at Tiruvarur, Lord Shiva asked him to drop the coins in the Manimuttar river which flows near the temple. Sundarar did so and when he went to Tiruvarur, he got the gold coins from the famous Kamalalayam Tank at Tiruvarur.