Tirupperunturai

Thirupperunthurai (also called the Athmanathaswamy temple) is located in Avudaiyarkoil village, near Aranthangi in the Pudukkottai district of Tamil Nadu. It was built in 10 century to honor Lord Shiva. One of the sacred books of Tamil Saiva Siddhanta, Manikkavasagar's Tiruvasakam, originated from this shrine. Manikkavasagar is said to have converted the king to follow Shiva, and built the temple with money that had been intended for war-horses. The temple is supposed to have been built by Manickavasagar. As the prime minister, he was given money by King Varaguna Pandya II for the purpose of buying good horses in Chola Nadu, instead he spent it on building the temple. When Manickavasagar was confronted by the king for the lack of horses or money, Shiva displayed one of his thiruvilayadal, a divine sport, by transforming jackal to horses, which once they were given to the king became jackal again. Athmanathar temple is a testimony to the temple architectural skills of ancient Hindu sculptors and engineers. This temple is specially known for the carvings of 27 Nakshatras or lunar stations. This temple also showcases the ancient Hindu knowledge of the human anatomy.