01The hunter and the sea
Vedan is a hunter. The temple’s katha says Arjuna did tapas here on his tirtha yatra and Shiva met him as a hunter, the Kirata, and gave him His grace; Arjuna is kept here as a festival image with trident and bow, and the Lord’s hunter form and the Devi’s huntress form are among the finest utsava murtis. Murugan here too holds a bow. The Devi is said to have been born among the fishing people of this coast, and so on Masi Magam the fishermen carry Tirumeni Azhagar to the sea for the Kadal Aadu festival. Sambandar, coming from the shore, sang his padigam on the Lord of Vettakudi.
Visiting
About 6 km from Karaikal: take the Poraiyar road to Varichakudi and turn at the arch. Masi Magam (February–March) is the day to come.
