Arulmigu Rethneswarar Temple is located in Thiruvadanai over a large area of land. In ancient times it is believed that Sage Dhurvasa cursed Varunan's son Varuni as a result of which he got transformed with a Goat head and an Elephant body. Hence the name Thiruvadanai for this Temple. The story is depicted as an image and kept just outside the Moolasthanam. The full name of the Temple is Sri Snehavalli Samedha Sri Rathineswarar Temple and it is a East facing Temple having a 9 tiered Rajagopuram. On entering the Rajagopuram there is a huge corridor with symmetrical multiple pillars, all neatly embedded with Idols and etched beautifully. Even the ceiling is not spared and are gorgeously painted with Images of various Gods and Goddesses. On either side there are multi pillared mandapams. While those on the right are stacked with the Kovil Vaahanams most of the mandapam to the left are empty. On moving further towards the Moolasthanam there is a Swarna Vinayagar on the left and a Baladandayuthapani on the right. There is a pair of  Bali Peedam, a Dwajasthambam and a Nandhi Vaahanam facing the Sanctum Sanctorum. There is an arched lamp stand made out od metal on which many oil lamps could be lit together. There is another smaller Nandhi Vaahanam close to the Moolasthanam with a pair of two black Dwara Baalakas standing guard at the threshold. Closer to one of the Dwara Baalakas is a Vinayagar Idol facing Eastward. In the Sanctum Sanctorum Sri Adhi Rathneswarar is East facing and is in the form of a Shiva LIngam. He is considered as an incarnation of Lord Shiva. In the inner peripheral there are Idols for 63 Naayanmars and at the fag end there are Idols for Sapthamathas along with a Vinayagar and Veerabadrar. Then comes the Idol of Kanni Moola Ganapathy, Somaskandar, Siddhi Vinayagar, Arjuna Lingam, Gowri Ambal, Varuna Lingam, Gomatheeswarar, Jyothirlingam, Kasi Viswanathar, Visalakshi, Sri Devi Bhoo Devi Samedha Varadharaja Perumal, Brihu Lingam, Valli Devasena Samedha Subramaniyar and Gajalakshmi. Around the Koshtam the Idols of Narthana Vinayagar, Dhakshinamoorthy, Lingothbhavar, Brahmma, Durgai and Chandikeshwarar are found. There is a Vilva Moolar Idol depicting a Vilva Maram and beneath it a Shiva Lingam along with Naga Devathas are kept. There is a South facing Natarajar Shrine who is found along with Sivagami Ambal and the peculiarity of this Shrine is that there are a pair of Saadhus standing guard at the threshold similar to that of the Dwara Baalakas. Beyond it is an Idol for Bhairavar, Karthigai Rohini Samedha Chandran and Saneeswaran, all facing the Moolavar Sannadhi.  On the other side there are Agasthiyar Vinayagar, Theja Sandar, Usha Devi, Suriyan, Prathyusha Devi, Markandeya Vinayagar, Varuna Vinayagar, Thaneeswarar and Thaneeswari Idols neatly displayed. The Ambal Shrine in this Temple is so huge and is in a multi pillared mandapam which is East facing. The Ambal is known as Snehavalli Ambal alias Anbayi Ambal and She has a pair of Dwara Baalakis standing guard on the doorsteps of Her Sannadhi. There are a pair of Pillayar close to the Ambal Shrine and they together known as Irattai Vinayagar or Irattai Pillayar and there is a Palliayarai closeby. Around the Koshtam of the Ambal is Iccha Sakthi, Kiraya Sakthi, Gnana Sakthi and Chandikeshwari Idols. The Sthala Viruksham of this Temple is a Vilva Maram and beneath it are Idols for Naga Devathas, Bali Peedam, Nandhi Vaahanam, Shiva Lingam and a Lingothbhavar. The Pushkarani has been recently spurced and rebuilt and its called as Surya Theertham, Varuna Theertham, Varuni Theertham, Markandeya Theertham, Agasthiya Theertham, Ksheera Kundam or Kamadhenu Theertham. A small Divine library is found within the Temple premises and it caters to the need of the Devotees. Vinayagar Chathurthi, Aippasi Annabishegam, Arudhra Dharisanam, Masi Magam, Pradhosham, Navarathri, Maha Shivarathiri are some of the festivals are celebrated in a grand manner. This Temple is considered as a Sukra Dosha Parihaara Sthalam.

Temple Phone Number: 04561-254533, Ravi Gurukkal 73588 04233 and 94431 64348, Soundara Thiagaraja Gurukkal 96269 68301, Subramaniya Gurukkal 97898 40519 and Chandrasekara Gurukkal 85261 59506

Temple Timing: 6 AM to 12 Noon and 4.30 PM to 8.30 PM

Distance from Karaikudi to Thiruvadanai is 42 Kms

Distance from Devakottai to Thiruvadanai is 25 Kms

Distance from Ramanathapuram to Thiruvadanai is 54 Kms

Distance from Dhanuskodi to Thiruvadanai is 124 Kms

Distance from Rameswaram to Thiruvadanai is 105 Kms

Distance from Madurai to Thiruvadanai is 97 Kms

Distance from Thirupullani to Thiruvadanai is 66 Kms

Distance from Kovilpatti to Thiruvadanai is 180 Kms

Distance from Sivakasi to Thiruvadanai is 172 Kms

Distance from Virudhunagar to Thiruvadanai is 151 Kms

Distance from Devipattinam to Thiruvadanai is 40 Kms

Distance from Uthrakosamangai to Thiruvadanai is 71 Kms

Distance from Chennai to Thiruvadanai is 460 Kms

Nearest Railway Station is Devakottai R.S

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