Thiruvaiyaru, Tamilnadu

Aiyarappar temple at Thiruvaiyaru, Tamilnadu is devoted to lord Shiva and is incarnated by the hymns of Thevaram and is classified as a Paadal Petra Sthalam. Thiruvaiyaru gets its name (Thiru - sacred, Aai - five, Aaru - river)  five river from, Arusallaru, Vennaaru, Vettaru, Kadamuttayaru and Kaveriaaru that run around this temple town. 

This Shivasthalam is one of the six most sacred places on river Kaveri (Cauvery) and is considered equivalent to the temple at Varanasi. 

It is also one among the saptha sthalams associated with the marriage of Nandi the foremost attenadant of Lord Shiva. It is said that every year during April/May, the lord's idol sits on a glass palanquin and goes around the six temples at the villages around starting from Thiruvaiyaru. 

The most renowned aspect apart from the mythological importance of Thiruvaiyaru is the Thyagaraja Aradhana festival. Saint Thyagaraja (the trinity of Carnatic music) composed most of his greatest Keerthana sitting in a one room house near this temple. The Country's greatest Carnatic music festival is performed annually here near his samadhi which is on the banks of river Kaveri. 

Thyagaraja Aradhana is held during the month of January, when most of the eminent musicians come together to perform the Keerthans and thousands of ardent Carnatic fans assemble to watch the fest. 

Thiruvayairu is about 16km from Thanjavur and is well connected by road. 

The temple is open between 6.00am to 11.00am and 4.00pm to 8.30pm.