Thiruvarur · Tamil Nadu · Shaiva · The “temple of temples”
Thiruvarur Thyagaraja Temple – Timings, Darshan & Seva Booking
Nine gopurams, 365 lingams and the Lord of all gods. Today’s darshan timings, pooja schedule, seva ticket prices and festival days for Thiruvarur Thyagaraja Temple, Thiruvarur, from the official HR&CE temple portal.
Lord Thyagaraja (Somaskanda) and Lord Vanmeekanathar, with Goddess Kamalambal
- 6:00 AM – 12:00 PM, 4:00 PM – 9:00 PM
- 6 daily poojas
- Sevas from ₹200
Tickets are booked on the government HR&CE portal, which opens in a new tab. If the portal is down, that tab waits and opens it as soon as it’s back.
Right now at the temple
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About Thiruvarur Thyagaraja Temple
Thiruvarur Thyagaraja Temple is called the temple of temples, and its numbers explain why: nine great gopurams, about 80 vimanas, 12 huge walls, 13 large mandapams, 15 holy wells, three gardens and three wide prakarams. Inside are 365 lingams — one for each day of the year — more than 70 shrines and 86 images of Vinayagar. Shiva here is self-manifest, and Thyagaraja means the king of all the gods.
The temple tells how Vishnu, longing for a son, did long penance and was blessed by Shiva together with Uma and the child Murugan — the Somaskanda form. Vishnu asked them to remain as an image for the good of the world, and kept that image of Thyagaraja on his chest in worship for ages before it came to Thiruvarur. Devotees who see the Lord’s face here go on to Vilamal, about 3 km away, for darshan of his feet.
- Nine rajagopurams and 365 lingams
- Thyagaraja in the Somaskanda form, with Vanmeekanathar as the self-manifest lingam
- A daily “Nithya Pradosham” Sayaratchai pooja at 6 PM
- The standing Nandi (Rishaba Devar)
Temple Timings
Time at the temple (India)
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- Open for darshan
- Darshan paused
- Pooja
The ring shows the AM (midnight to noon) hours.
Open for darshan
- 6:00 AM – 12:00 PM
- 4:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Nadai closed
- 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM
- Darshan runs 6 AM–12:30 PM (1 PM on Saturdays and Sundays) and 4 PM–9 PM.
- Except on the two Pradosham days each month, Thyagaraja’s Sayaratchai pooja at 6 PM is celebrated as a daily Pradosham.
- Visit Vilamal, about 3 km away, for darshan of the Lord’s feet.
Daily Pooja Schedule
6 poojas are performed every day. Times are India time and change on festival days.
6:00 AM
to 6:15 AM
Thiruvanandal Pooja (Thyagarajar alankaram)
8:30 AM
to 9:00 AM
Kalasandhi Pooja (Thyagarajar alankaram)
11:30 AM
to 12:00 PM
Uchikala Pooja (Thyagarajar alankaram)
6:00 PM
to 6:30 PM
Sayaratchai Pooja (Thyagarajar alankaram)
7:30 PM
to 8:00 PM
Irandamkala Pooja (Thyagarajar alankaram)
8:45 PM
to 9:00 PM
Arthajama Pooja (Thyagarajar alankaram)
Seva & Darshan Tickets
All sevas on HR&CEFees for booking online on the Tamil Nadu HR&CE portal. Tickets are issued by the temple; Trypdeals does not sell them.
Milk Abishagam (Ammavasai)
Abhishekam · 1 person per ticket
During darshan hours
₹200
BookSubshrines Abhishekam
Abhishekam · 1 person per ticket
During darshan hours
₹1,000
BookArulmigu (Moolavar) Vanmeeganathar Abhishekam
Abhishekam · 1 person per ticket
During darshan hours
₹1,200
BookArulmigu (Moolavar) Vanmeeganathar Sagasranamam
Archanai · 1 person per ticket
During darshan hours
₹1,200
BookArulmigu Kamalambal Abhishekam
Abhishekam · 1 person per ticket
During darshan hours
₹1,200
BookArulmigu Kamalambal Sagasranamam
Archanai · 1 person per ticket
During darshan hours
₹1,200
BookArulmigu Roudra Durgai Abishagam
Abhishekam · 1 person per ticket
During darshan hours
₹1,200
BookArulmigu Runavimochanar Abhishekam
Abhishekam · 1 person per ticket
During darshan hours
₹1,200
BookArulmigu Thiyagarajar Sagasranamam
Archanai · 1 person per ticket
During darshan hours
₹1,200
BookNavagraha Prithi Homam
Prathanai Service · 1 person per ticket
During darshan hours
₹25,000
BookArulmigu Kamalambal Navasakthi Archanai
Archanai · 1 person per ticket
During darshan hours
₹40,000
BookArulmigu Vanmeegathar (Moolavar) RudrAbhishekam
Abhishekam · 1 person per ticket
During darshan hours
₹80,000
Book
Dress Code & Facilities
Wear
- Men: dhoti or veshti, or trousers with a shirt
- Women: saree, half-saree, or salwar with dupatta
Avoid
- Shorts and sleeveless tops
- Leather items near the sanctum
- Footwear — leave it at the free stands outside
Facilities
- WheelchairsOffice
- RO drinking waterThe temple is inside
- ToiletsIt is located in the south-west section of the third precinct.
- Free footwear standThe western tower of the temple is near the gate.
- Wooden temple carEast Street
- ThulabharamArulmigu Neelothpalambal Sannathi
How to Reach
Opposite the Kamalalayam tank, Thiruvarur, Tamil Nadu 610003 Get directions
- ThiruvarurBus stand2 km
- Vilamal, ThiruvarurHospital2 km
- ThiruvarurRailway station2 km
History
Through the centuries
Aditya Chola I
An inscription of his third regnal year records the gift of a lamp with sheep for its upkeep; a shepherd agreed to measure out its ghee daily with a cup named Thiruneelakandam.
10th century
The brick shrines are rebuilt in stone — the sanctum under Aditya Chola I and the Araneri shrine in the time of Sembiyan Madevi; the second prakaram wall is credited to Rajendra Chola.
15th–16th century
Nayak-period inscriptions record the rule and gifts of a Nayak king.
Maratha period
The temple credits the Marathas with work on the outer prakaram and its towers.
2015
Jeernoddharana Ashtabandhana kumbabhishekam on 8 November 2015.
Temple at a Glance
- Main deity
- Lord Thyagaraja
- Nandi
- Standing, not seated
- Sacred tank
- Kamalalayam, with the Sangu Theertham spring at its centre
- Last Kumbabhishekam
- 8 November 2015
Art & Architecture
Halls, sculptures and paintings worth seeking out inside the temple.
- ViswakarmeswaramSecond courtyardA small shrine built entirely of stone, vimana included, dedicated to Viswakarma, the architect of the gods — a tribute to the sculptor’s craft.
- Manu Needhi CholaTemple precinctThe legendary king who gave up his own son to atone for a calf killed under the prince’s chariot wheel is shown in stone here.
- Rajanarayana mandapamSecond prakaramA hall the temple credits to a Pallava chief named Rajanarayana.
Customs & Rituals
The standing Nandi
Nandi stands ready instead of sitting, because the Lord once set off on foot as Sundarar’s messenger and Nandi chose to stay ever ready to follow.
Thiruthondathogai
Sundarar first sang the list of the 63 Nayanmars in the temple’s Devasiriya mandapam.
Sangu Theertham
The spring in the middle of the Kamalalayam is believed to have healing powers.
Temple Animals & Services
- 13Cows, bull and calvesAs on 12 March 2020Eight cows, one bull and four calves near the western tower.
Online Booking Rules
How seva and darshan booking works on the HR&CE portal — worth reading before you pay.
- 1Book only on the official portalDarshan and seva tickets are sold on the Tamil Nadu HR&CE portal. Many temples offer free darshan slots; paid tickets are priced by each temple.
- 2A government ID for every personEach devotee on the ticket needs a government ID number at booking — Aadhaar, Voter ID, PAN, ration card or driving licence.
- 3One ID, one booking at a timeThe same ID cannot be used again until a gap set by the temple has passed. If a booking fails, the ID is released and can be used straight away.
- 4Your e-ticketA confirmed booking produces a PDF e-ticket to download; it is also sent to the email and mobile number you give. The portal’s “e-Ticket Verification” page lets you check a booking and download the ticket again.
- 5If a payment is stuckA pending payment usually settles within 10 to 30 minutes — the portal re-checks with the bank on its own. If money was debited but the booking failed, the bank refunds it in 3–5 working days.
- 6Paid bookings are finalPaid tickets cannot be cancelled or refunded, so check the date and slot before paying.
- 7Ticket won’t open?On older Android phones the PDF sometimes won’t display — download it and open it in an up-to-date PDF reader.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the Thiruvarur Thyagaraja Temple timings?
Thiruvarur Thyagaraja Temple is open 6:00 AM – 12:00 PM, 4:00 PM – 9:00 PM; the nadai is closed 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM. Timings change on festival days.
What is the daily pooja schedule at Thiruvarur Thyagaraja Temple?
6 poojas are held every day, starting with Thiruvanandal Pooja (Thyagarajar alankaram) at 6:00 AM – 6:15 AM and ending with Arthajama Pooja (Thyagarajar alankaram) at 8:45 PM – 9:00 PM.
Can I book sevas at Thiruvarur Thyagaraja Temple online?
Yes — 12 sevas, from ₹200, can be booked on the Tamil Nadu HR&CE portal. Each seva above links to its official booking page.
What is the dress code?
Traditional dress is expected: dhoti or pants with a shirt for men, and saree, half-saree or salwar with dupatta for women. Shorts and sleeveless tops are not allowed.
When was the last Kumbabhishekam at Thiruvarur Thyagaraja Temple?
The latest Kumbabhishekam (re-consecration) of Thiruvarur Thyagaraja Temple was held on 8 November 2015.
What ID do I need to book darshan online?
Every person on the ticket needs a government ID number at booking — Aadhaar, Voter ID, PAN, ration card or driving licence. The same ID can be used again only after a gap set by the temple.
Can I cancel a paid seva or darshan ticket?
No. Paid bookings on the HR&CE portal are final and cannot be cancelled or refunded. If money was debited but the booking failed, the bank refunds it within 3–5 working days.
Timings, pooja schedule, fees and festival days come from the official Tamil Nadu HR&CE Thirukoil portal and are refreshed daily (last update 9 Oct 2026). They change on festival days — please confirm on the official temple page before you travel.