Ratnagirishwarar Temple is located on Ayyarmalai hill near Kulithalai in Karur district, Tamil Nadu. The temple stands on a rocky hill called Ratnagiri, meaning “Hill of Gems.”
Devotees must climb several steps to reach the hilltop temple, and the place offers a calm and spiritually powerful atmosphere.
Ratnagirishwarar Temple is believed to be extremely ancient and is said to have existed from very old times, even across different yugas, according to temple tradition. Historically, the temple is associated with early South Indian dynasties and sages and is believed to be more than 1000 years old. The temple has been worshipped continuously for centuries and holds great importance in Shaivism.
The main deity of the temple is Lord Shiva, worshipped as Sri Ratnagirishwarar in the form of a sacred Shiva Lingam. The Lingam is believed to be very powerful and self-manifested. Goddess Parvati is worshipped in a separate shrine as the divine consort. The temple is considered highly sacred for removing sins, curing diseases, and solving life obstacles. Devotees visit the temple seeking health, peace, and spiritual upliftment.
The temple is built on a natural rocky hill and follows traditional Dravidian-style temple architecture. The sanctum is located at the hilltop, and devotees climb steps to reach the shrine. The temple complex includes sacred theerthams (holy water bodies), shrines for various deities, and a sacred neem tree known as the Sthala Vriksha. The hill itself is considered divine, and the peaceful natural surroundings make the temple suitable for meditation and spiritual practices.
According to temple tradition, the greatness of this temple was explained by Sage Suta to other sages. The temple has been worshipped by many celestial beings, sages, and kings. Several divine events are believed to have taken place here, including penance by Lord Indra, worship by Sage Agastya, and blessings given by Lord Shiva to many devotees. Because of these divine associations, the temple is regarded as one of the powerful Shiva temples in Tamil Nadu.
Indra’s Penance
Lord Indra performed penance at this hill to remove a curse connected with Ahalya. On the advice of his guru Brihaspati, he worshipped Lord Shiva here and installed a sacred neem tree. He also created a holy tank using his Vajra weapon. Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati appeared before him, removed his sins, and restored his heavenly position.
King and the Divine Gem
A King once performed penance at this place, seeking a rare gem. Lord Shiva instructed him to build a tank and fill it with Cauvery water, but the tank never filled. In anger, the King struck the Shiva Lingam with his sword. Immediately, a precious gem appeared before him, and the King realized his mistake and sought forgiveness. Because of this incident, the hill came to be known as Ratnagiri (Hill of Gems).
Siddhas and the Crow Legend
Many Siddhas are believed to have lived and performed penance on this hill. Once, when a crow disturbed milk meant for Abhishekam, the spiritual power of a Siddha burned the crow. From that time, it is believed that crows do not fly over this hill.
Vayu and Adisesha Worship
A dispute occurred between Vayu (Wind God) and Adisesha about their strength. Due to a curse, Vayu worshipped Lord Shiva here and created a sacred tank. Lord Shiva blessed him and restored his power. Adisesha also worshipped here and was relieved from his curse.
Surya and Sage Agastya
The Sun God and Sage Agastya also worshipped Lord Shiva at this temple. It is believed that Lord Shiva revealed sacred Vedic knowledge to Sage Agastya at this holy place.
