Sri Rathinagireeswarar Temple is a rare hilltop Temple located in Iyermalai. Some Devotees call this Temple as Vaatpokki Ratnagireswarar Temple. This Temple is supposed to be several centuries old and there are inscriptions of Kulothunga Chola II and certain other Chola KIngs which suggests that this Temple would have existed as an ancient stone Temple even before their days. It is believed that Sage Agsthiyar had come to Ayyarmalai while on his way to Pothigaimalai and it is also said that Indran, Vaayu, Aadhi Seshan, Jayanthan and the Pancha Pandavas had come here to Pray Sri Rathinagireeswarar. It is one among the 276 Thevara Paadal Petra Sthalam and it is a rare Shiva Sthalam which has been sung very high by several Tamil Poets. There are two ways to reach the Shrine of Sri Rathinagireeswarar. One way is to climb around 1015 to 1020 steps and the other way is to buy a ticket and reach the Temple top through a rope car. There is a small East facing entrance with a multi pillared Mandapam from where the steps leads to the Temple. Rope car tickets too can be bought at a nearby ticket counter. There is a Ganapathy Sub Shrine in this Mandapam. Apart from this there is a Karuppanna Swamy Sub Shrine before which two Idols of jumping horses could be seen. Close to this is the Thiruvadi or Divine Feet of Vaira  Perumal. Frankly speaking these steps leading to the Temple does not have an overhead covering as a result of which the Devotees are exposed to the vageries of nature. Instead a few Mandapams have been built from the basement leading towards the Temple top which provides shelter to those Devotees who intend to travel on foot. There are many small Sub Shrines on the way leading to the Temple like Durgai Amman, Murugan, Ganapathy etc. Even those Devotees who wish to travel by rope car ought to reach other Sub Shrines and the Main Shrine through steps which makes it quite cumbersome for the sick and elderly. Close to the rope car terminal is the Shrine for Ambal who is called as Surumbar Kuzhali Ambal or Aralakeshwari Ambal. She is seen East facing and in a standing posture. There are two Dwara Baalagi Idols just before the Shrine of Surumbar Kuzhali Ambal. Devotees circumambulating the Ambal's Shrine need to be very careful and watchful since the stone slabs on the flooring here has given way with yawning holes at several places. After a few serpentine steps there is a Sub Shrine for 63 Naayanmaars and closeby is a Neivedhya Peedam or Bali Peedam along with a Dwajasthambam. A beautifully designed age old Ganapathy Idol has been chiselled on the rock and the area around it makes a Devotee feel that this is a Fort Temple since it resembles so. Furthermore there is an East facing for Vaira Perumal and all Devotees coming to this Temple never miss seeing this Vaira Perumal. The Presiding Deity Sri Rathinagireeswarar is seen West facing in His Shrine and He is in the form of a Shiva Lingam. This Shiva Lingam of Sri Ratnagireeswarar is considered as Swayambhu and there is a small Thanni Thottti or Water Tub placed before the Presiding Deity. There are two Dwara Baalakas standing guard before His Shrine. There is an unusually huge Neivedhya Peedam and a Nandhi Bhagwan facing the Moolasthanam. Around the Kostham Vinayagar, Dhakshinamoorthy, Brahmma, Durgai and Arthanareeswarar Idols could be seen. While most of the other Shivan Temple have Lingothbhavar in the Koshtam this Temple is unique in having an Idol of Arthanareeswarar. In one of the corridors Lord Nataraja found along with Sivagami Ambal. Devotees going by foor could notice many natural caves on their way to the Temple top it is widely believed that Siddhars and Sages of those days had lived in many of the caves.This Temple has an exclusive Pushkarani or Sacred Tank at its foothill. Likewise they have built a huge car parking area with toilet facilities too. Vinayagar Chathurthi, Aippasi Annabishegam, Arudhra Dharisanam, Masi Magam, Pradhosham, Navarathri, Maha Shivarathiri are some of the festivals are celebrated in a grand manner. 

Contact Details: R.Mani Temple Staff 99652 73092, Chandru Flower Shop 70940 88530, Santhosh 74182 79073, 04323 245522

Temple Timing: 10 AM to 5 PM Continuously

Distance from Salem to Ayyarmalai is 103 Kms

Distance from Mecheri to Ayyarmalai is 137 Kms

Distance from Omalur to Ayyarmalai is 125 Kms

Distance from Mettur Dam to Ayyarmalai is 150 Kms

Distance from Bannari to Ayyarmalai is 180 Kms

Distance from Namakkal to Ayyarmalai is 54 Kms

Distance from Erode to Ayyarmalai is 113 Kms

Distance from Karur to Ayyarmalai is 44 Kms

Distance from Rasipuram to Ayyarmalai is 84 Kms

Distance from Kulithalai to Ayyarmalai is 9 Kms

Distance from Valikandapuram to Ayyarmalai is 101 Kms

Distance from Perambalur to Ayyarmalai is 91 Kms

Distance from Trichy to Ayyarmalai is 50 Kms

Distance from Thanjavur to Ayyarmalai is 98 Kms

Distance from Kumbakonam to Ayyarmalai is 135 Kms

Distance from Mohanur to Ayyarmalai is 44 Kms

Distance from Thiruchengode to Ayyarmalai is 91 Kms

Distance from Kaveripattinam to Ayyarmalai is 205 Kms

Distance from Dharmapuri to Ayyarmalai is 256 Kms

Distance from Ambur to Ayyarmalai is 284 Kms

Distance from Krishnagiri to Ayyarmalai is 221 Kms

Distance from Hosur to Ayyarmalai is 252 Kms

Distance from Kodumudi to Ayyarmalai is 75 Kms

Distance from Coimbatore to Ayyarmalai is 179 Kms

Distance from Chennai to Ayyarmalai is 351 Kms

Nearest Railway Station is Kulithalai R.S.

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