Our Lady of Lourdes Shrine, Villianur

Kameeswarar temple

Villianur's temple answers to three names — Thirukameeswarar, Kokilamba-Kameeswarar, or simply the Villianur temple — and covers two acres behind concentric rectangular walls. Shiva is worshipped here as Kameeswarar in the form of a lingam, with Kokilamba Amman and Ranganathar holding the other two prominent shrines. The Cholas are believed to have built the original, and later dynasties kept adding to it. Rituals run six times a day between six in the morning and half past eight at night, so there is no wrong hour to arrive. The crowds come for Brahmotsavam in the Tamil month of Aadi, July into August.