Vanchinadha Swamy Temple

The presiding deity of the temple is Shiva in the name of Vanchinathan and the name of the Goddess is Mangalambika. The sthala vriksham (sacred tree of this temple) is Sandalwood tree. The sacred tank of this sthalam (place) is called the GuptaGangai. It is one of the shrines of the 275 Paadal Petra Sthalams.

It is one of the rare temples where there is a separate shrine for Yama, the Hindu god of death. Yama is sported in seated posture with Chitragupta by his side. Gupta Ganga, Yama Theertham, Agni Theertham and Lakshmi Theertham are the various bodies of water associated with the temple. Masimagam is the most prominent festival in the temple when the festival image of Shiva is taken in the mount of Yama around the streets of Srivanchiyam.[3] It has two nandhis facing both sides of Vanchinadha. Rahu-Ketu, carved out in a composite sculpture. There is a separate sannathi for Shani.[4]

Thiruvayyaru, Mayiladuthurai, Thiruvidaimaruthur, Thiruvenkadu, Chayavanam and Srivanchiyam are considered equivalents of Kasi. Like in Kasi, where the city is centered around Kashi Vishwanath Temple, the temples in these towns along the banks of river Cauvery, namely Aiyarappar temple in Thiruvaiyaru, Mahalingeswarar temple in Thiruvidaimarudur, Mayuranathaswamy temple in Mayiladuthurai, Chayavaneswarar temple in Sayavanam, Swetharanyeswarar temple in Thiruvenkadu, Srivanchinadhaswamy temple in Srivanchiyam are the centerpieces of the towns.[5]

This is a sacred tank in which goddess Ganga herself bathes to cleanse herself from the sins. A holy dip in this tank is equivalent to that of one in Kasi.

During the Tamil month of Kaarththigai (Nov-Dec), Theerthavari (sacred water splash) is conducted in the Guptha Gangai (temple tank) on all Sundays. It also includes a ten-day festival and a car festival at the end of the month.[6]