The Paadal Petra Sthalams are the 275 greatest temples dedicated to Lord Shiva that were revered in the Tevaram, the sacred Tamil poetic hymns written by the three great Nayanmar saints (Appar, Sundarar, and Sambandar) between the 7th and 9th centuries.
To navigate this monumental pilgrimage, the 275 temples are classified by their ancient geographical regions (Nadus).
The Regional Distribution
| Ancient Region | Number of Temples | Major Cities Covered |
| Chola Nadu (North of Kaveri) | 63 Temples | Tiruchirappalli, Mayiladuthurai |
| Chola Nadu (South of Kaveri) | 127 Temples | Thanjavur, Kumbakonam |
| Thondai Nadu | 32 Temples | Kanchipuram, Chennai |
| Nadu Nadu | 22 Temples | Cuddalore, Villupuram |
| Pandiya Nadu | 14 Temples | Madurai, Tirunelveli, Rameswaram |
| Kongu Nadu | 7 Temples | Coimbatore, Erode, Karur |
| Eezha Nadu | 2 Temples | Sri Lanka (Trincomalee, Mannar) |
| Tuluva Nadu | 1 Temple | Gokarna (Karnataka) |
| Malai Nadu | 1 Temple | Thiruvanchikulam (Kerala) |
| Vada Nadu | 5 Temples | Srisailam, Kedarnath, Kashi, Nepal |
| Total Shrines | 275 Temples |
Traveler’s Insight: Over 190 of these temples are concentrated in the Kaveri delta region (Chola Nadu). If you are looking to visit the highest density of these sacred sites, establishing a base in Kumbakonam or Thanjavur is the most efficient strategy.
1. Vada Nadu (The 5 Northern Shrines)
Located entirely outside South India, stretching up to the Himalayas.
| # | Temple Name | Location (State/Country) | Deity |
| 1 | Thirukkayilayam | Mount Kailash, Tibet | Kailasanathar |
| 2 | Thirukkedaram | Kedarnath, Uttarakhand | Kedaralingam |
| 3 | Thirupparuppatham | Srisailam, Andhra Pradesh | Mallikarjunar |
| 4 | Indraneela Parvatham | Kathmandu, Nepal | Pasupathinathar |
| 5 | Thirukokarnam | Gokarna, Karnataka | Mahabaleshwarar |
| (Note: Gokarna is technically Tuluva Nadu, but often grouped here). |
2. Eezha Nadu & Malai Nadu (Sri Lanka & Kerala)
Covering Sri Lanka and Kerala.
| # | Region | Temple Name | Location | Deity |
| 6 | Eezha Nadu | Thirukoneswaram | Trincomalee, Sri Lanka | Koneswarar |
| 7 | Eezha Nadu | Thiruketheeswaram | Mannar, Sri Lanka | Ketheeswarar |
| 8 | Malai Nadu | Thiruvanchikulam | Thrissur, Kerala | Mahadevar |
3. Kongu Nadu (The 7 Western Shrines)
Covering the modern districts of Coimbatore, Tiruppur, and Erode in Tamil Nadu.
| # | Temple Name | Location (Tamil Nadu) | Deity |
| 9 | Thiruppukkoliyur | Avinasi | Avinasiappar |
| 10 | Thirumuruganpoondi | Tiruppur | Muruganatheswarar |
| 11 | Thirunanaa | Bhavani | Sangameswarar |
| 12 | Thirupandikodumudi | Kodumudi | Magudeswarar |
| 13 | Karuvur Aanilai | Karur | Pasupatheeswarar |
| 14 | Venjamakoodal | Karur | Kalyana Vikirtheswarar |
| 15 | Thiruchengode | Namakkal | Ardhanareeswarar |
4. Pandiya Nadu (The 14 Southern Shrines)
Centered around the ancient capital of Madurai and stretching down to Tirunelveli.
| # | Temple Name | Location (Tamil Nadu) | Deity |
| 16 | Thiru Aalavai | Madurai (Meenakshi Temple) | Somasundarar |
| 17 | Thirupparamkunram | Madurai | Parangirinathar |
| 18 | Thiruvedagam | Madurai | Edaganathar |
| 19 | Thiruvadanai | Ramanathapuram | Aadhiratneswarar |
| 20 | Thiruppunavayil | Pudukkottai | Vriddhapureeswarar |
| 21 | Thiruchuzhial | Virudhunagar | Thirumeninathar |
| 22 | Thirukkanper | Kalayar Kovil | Swarnakaleeswarar |
| 23 | Thirukkutralam | Tenkasi | Kutralasanathar |
| 24 | Thirunelveli | Tirunelveli | Nellaiappar |
| 25 | Rameswaram | Ramanathapuram | Ramanathaswamy |
| 26 | Thiruvadanai | Ramanathapuram | Aadhiratneswarar |
| 27 | Thirukkodunkundram | Piranmalai | Kodunkundranathar |
| 28 | Thiruppathur | Sivaganga | Thiruthalinathar |
| 29 | Thiruppuvanam | Sivaganga | Poovananathar |
5. Thondai Nadu (The 32 Shrines of the North)
The region covering Kanchipuram, Chennai, and Vellore.
| # | Temple Name | Location (Tamil Nadu/AP) | Deity |
| 30 | Ekambareswarar | Kanchipuram | Ekambareswarar |
| 31 | Thirukalukundram | Chengalpattu | Vedagiriswarar |
| 32 | Kalahasti | Andhra Pradesh | Kalahasteeswarar |
| 33 | Thiruvalangadu | Tiruvallur | Vadaranyeswarar |
| 34 | Mylapore | Chennai | Kapaleeswarar |
| 35 | Thiruvanmiyur | Chennai | Marundeeswarar |
| 36 | Thiruvotriyur | Chennai | Padampakkanathar |
| 37 | Thirumullaivoyal | Chennai | Masilamaniswarar |
| 38 | Thiruverkadu | Chennai | Vedapureeswarar |
| 39 | Thiruvakkarai | Villupuram | Chandramouleeswarar |
| 40 | Thiruvidandai | Chennai ECR | Nithyakalyana Perumal |
| 41 | Thirupachur | Tiruvallur | Pasooranathar |
| 42 | Thiruvirkolam | Tiruvallur | Tripurantakeswarar |
| 43 | Ilambaiyankottur | Kanchipuram | Deivasigamaniswarar |
| 44 | Thiruvenbakkam | Tiruvallur | Venbakkiswarar |
| 45 | Thirukallil | Tiruvallur | Sivanandeswarar |
| 46 | Thirupaneeyur | Chennai | Paneeswarar |
| 47 | Thirumakural | Kanchipuram | Makuraleswarar |
| 48 | Thirumagaral | Kanchipuram | Magaraleswarar |
| 49 | Kuranganilmuttam | Kanchipuram | Vaaleeswarar |
| 50 | Thirumarperu | Kanchipuram | Manikandeswarar |
| 51 | Thiruvothur | Cheyyar | Vedapureeswarar |
| 52 | Panankattur | Kanchipuram | Panankatteswarar |
| 53 | Thiruvamathur | Villupuram | Abirameswarar |
| 54 | Thirukovilur | Villupuram | Veeratteswarar |
| 55 | Thiruvadigai | Cuddalore | Veerataneswarar |
| 56 | Thiruthinai Nagar | Cuddalore | Sivaloganathar |
| 57 | Thiruchopuram | Cuddalore | Mangalapureeswarar |
| 58 | Thirumanikuzhi | Cuddalore | Vamanapureeswarar |
| 59 | Thirupathiripuliyur | Cuddalore | Padaleeswarar |
| 60 | Thiruvennainallur | Villupuram | Krupapureeswarar |
| 61 | Thirunaraiyur | Cuddalore | Soundaryeswarar |
6. Chola Nadu – Vada Karai (North Bank of the Kaveri)
These 63 temples are situated on the northern side of the Kaveri river, primarily covering the modern districts of Tiruchirappalli, Ariyalur, and Mayiladuthurai.
| # | Temple Name | Location (Town/Village) | Main Deity (Shiva) |
| 62 | Thiruchirappalli | Trichy (Rockfort) | Thayumanavar |
| 63 | Thiruaanaikka | Thiruvanaikaval (Trichy) | Jambukeswarar |
| 64 | Thirupanthurai | Trichy | Sivanandeswarar |
| 65 | Thirumazhapadi | Ariyalur | Vaidyanathaswamy |
| 66 | Thirupazhanam | Near Thiruvaiyaru | Apatsahayeswarar |
| 67 | Thiruvaiyaru | Thanjavur (North border) | Panchanadeeswarar |
| 68 | Thiruneithanam | Thillaisthanam | Ghritasthaneswarar / Neyyadiappar |
| 69 | Thirukandiyur | Near Thiruvaiyaru | Brahmasireeswarar |
| 70 | Thirupoonthuruthi | Near Thiruvaiyaru | Pushpavaneswarar |
| 71 | Thiruvalampozhil | Near Thiruvaiyaru | Atmanatheswarar |
| 72 | Thirumeyjanam | Tirumanancheri | Udhvaganathar |
| 73 | Thiruvengur | Near Trichy | Vigeswarar |
| 74 | Thirukattupalli | Thanjavur region | Agneeswarar |
| 75 | Thirualampozhil | Near Thiruvaiyaru | Atmanatheswarar |
| 76 | Thiruvidamarudur | Near Kumbakonam | Mahalingeswarar |
| 77 | Thirukodikaval | Near Mayiladuthurai | Koteeswarar |
| 78 | Thirumangalakkudi | Near Aduthurai | Prananatheswarar |
| 79 | Thirupanandal | Near Kumbakonam | Senchadaiyappar |
| 80 | Thiruvaapadi | Near Kumbakonam | Paluganatheswarar |
| 81 | Thiruseignalur | Near Kumbakonam | Sathyagireeswarar |
| 82 | Thirundhudevankudi | Near Kumbakonam | Karkadeswarar |
| 83 | Thiruvisanallur | Near Kumbakonam | Sivayoganathar |
| 84 | Thirupurambiyam | Near Kumbakonam | Sakshinatheswarar |
| 85 | Thiruvikramam | Sirkazhi region | Vikramatheswarar |
| 86 | Thirukkurukai | Near Mayiladuthurai | Veeratteswarar |
| 87 | Thirukaruppariyalur | Near Sirkazhi | Kutramporuthanathar |
| 88 | Thirupunkoor | Near Vaitheeswarankoil | Sivalokanathar |
| 89 | Thiruneedur | Near Mayiladuthurai | Somanatheswarar |
| 90 | Thiruppunnamarathur | Near Mayiladuthurai | Punnanatheswarar |
| 91 | Kurukkai | Near Mayiladuthurai | Veerateswarar |
| 92 | Thiruvalaputhur | Near Mayiladuthurai | Manikkavannar |
| 93 | Thiruthullam | Near Mayiladuthurai | Thullamudalvar |
| 94 | Thirukkollikadu | Near Tiruvarur | Agneeswarar |
| 95 | Thirukarugavur | Near Papanasam | Mullaiyavananathar |
| 96 | Thirupariyalur | Near Sirkazhi | Veerateswarar |
| 97 | Thiruvettaikudi | Karaikal | Thirumeninathar |
| 98 | Thirutharumapuram | Karaikal | Dharumapureeswarar |
| 99 | Thirunallar | Karaikal | Dharbaranyeswarar |
| 100 | Thirukkarukavur | Papanasam | Garbharakshambigai |
| 101 | Thiruvalanchuzhi | Kumbakonam | Kapardiswarar |
| 102 | Thirunageswaram | Kumbakonam | Naganathar |
| 103 | Thirukudanthai | Kumbakonam | Kumbeswarar |
| 104 | Thirukudanthai Keezh | Kumbakonam | Nageswarar |
| 105 | Thirukudanthai Karonam | Kumbakonam | Someswarar |
| 106 | Thirunageswaram | Kumbakonam | Naganathaswamy |
| 107 | Thiruvidaimaruthur | Kumbakonam | Mahalingeswarar |
| 108 | Thirukkurugavur | Sirkazhi | Velleeswarar |
| 109 | Sirkazhi | Sirkazhi | Brahmapureeswarar |
| 110 | Thirukolakka | Sirkazhi | Sabdapureeswarar |
| 111 | Thirupullirukkuvelur | Vaitheeswarankoil | Vaidyanathaswamy |
| 112 | Thirukannarkoil | Sirkazhi | Kurumanakudi |
| 113 | Thirukadaimudi | Sirkazhi | Kadaimudinathar |
| 114 | Thirunindriyur | Sirkazhi | Mahalakshmeeswarar |
| 115 | Thirupunkur | Sirkazhi | Sivalokanathar |
| 116 | Thirukkurukai | Mayiladuthurai | Veerateswarar |
| 117 | Thiruneedur | Mayiladuthurai | Somanatheswarar |
| 118 | Thiruppugalur | Nannilam | Agneeswarar |
| 119 | Thirumarugal | Nannilam | Rathnagireeswarar |
| 120 | Thiruchengattangudi | Nannilam | Uthrapatheswarar |
| 121 | Thirumarugal | Nannilam | Rathnagireeswarar |
| 122 | Thirupugalur | Nannilam | Agneeswarar |
| 123 | Thiruvarur | Thiruvarur | Tyagarajar |
| 124 | Thiruvizhimizhalai | Nannilam | Veezhinathar |
7. Chola Nadu – Then Karai (South Bank of the Kaveri)
These 128 temples are located south of the Kaveri River, densely packed around the ancient Chola capitals of Thanjavur, Kumbakonam, and Tiruvarur.
| # | Temple Name | Location (Town/Village) | Main Deity (Shiva) |
| 125 | Thiruvambar | Ambal | Brahmapureeswarar |
| 126 | Thiruvambar Maakalam | Ambal | Maakalnathar |
| 127 | Thirumeeyachur | Peralam | Meganathaswamy |
| 128 | Thirumeeyachur Ilamkoil | Peralam | Sakalabuvaneswarar |
| 129 | Thiruthiilathanam | Near Peralam | Thilakabhaneswarar |
| 130 | Thiruppampuram | Near Peralam | Pampuranathar |
| 131 | Thiruchirukudi | Near Peralam | Sookshmapureeswarar |
| 132 | Thiruveezhimizhalai | Near Poonthottam | Veezhinathar |
| 133 | Thiruvaanchiyam | Srivanchiyam | Vanchinathaswamy |
| 134 | Thirunannilam | Nannilam | Madhuvaneswarar |
| 135 | Thirukondeeswaram | Near Nannilam | Pasupatheeswarar |
| 136 | Thirupanaiyur | Near Nannilam | Soundareswarar |
| 137 | Thiruvirkudi | Near Nannilam | Veerataneswarar |
| 138 | Thirupugalur | Nannilam | Agneeswarar |
| 139 | Thirupugalur Vardhamaneeswaram | Nannilam | Vardhamaneeswarar |
| 140 | Thiruramanatheeswaram | Near Tiruvarur | Ramanatheswarar |
| 141 | Thirupayathangudi | Near Tiruvarur | Thirumuganathar |
| 142 | Thiruchengattangudi | Near Nannilam | Uthrapatheswarar |
| 143 | Thirumarugal | Near Nannilam | Rathnagireeswarar |
| 144 | Thiruchathamangai | Near Nannilam | Ayavandheeswarar |
| 145 | Thirukkannapuram | Near Nannilam | Ramanatheswarar |
| 146 | Thiruvalivalam | Near Tiruvarur | Hridayakamalanathar |
| 147 | Thirukkarayil | Near Tiruvarur | Kannayiranathar |
| 148 | Thirukolili | Thirukuvalai | Brahmapureeswarar |
| 149 | Thiruvaimoor | Near Thirukuvalai | Vaimoornathar |
| 150 | Thirumaraikadu | Vedaranyam | Vedaranyeswarar |
| 151 | Thiruagathiyanpalli | Near Vedaranyam | Agatheeswarar |
| 152 | Thirukkodi | Near Vedaranyam | Kuzhagareswarar |
| 153 | Thirukkadavur | Thirukkadaiyur | Amritaghateswarar |
| 154 | Thirukkadavur Mayanam | Near Thirukkadaiyur | Brahmapureeswarar |
| 155 | Thiruvelvikkudi | Near Kuttalam | Kalyanasundareswarar |
| 156 | Thiruthuruthi | Kuttalam | Uktavedeeswarar |
| 157 | Thirukozhambam | Near Kuttalam | Kokileswarar |
| 158 | Thirumailaduthurai | Mayiladuthurai | Mayuranathaswamy |
| 159 | Thiruvilanagar | Near Mayiladuthurai | Uchira Vaneswarar |
| 160 | Thirupariyalur | Near Mayiladuthurai | Veerateswarar |
| 161 | Thirusemponpalli | Near Mayiladuthurai | Swarnapureeswarar |
| 162 | Thirunanipalli | Punchai | Natrunaiyappar |
| 163 | Thiruvalampuram | Melaperumpallam | Valampuranathar |
| 164 | Thiruthalaichangadu | Near Akkur | Sankaranarayaneswarar |
| 165 | Thiruakkur | Akkur | Thanthondreeswarar |
| 166 | Thiruthirupalli | Near Akkur | Sivalokanathar |
| 167 | Thirukkurukkai | Near Mayiladuthurai | Veerateswarar |
| 168 | Thirukaruppariyalur | Near Sirkazhi | Kutramporuthanathar |
| 169 | Thiruppunkoor | Near Vaitheeswarankoil | Sivalokanathar |
| 170 | Thiruneedur | Near Mayiladuthurai | Somanatheswarar |
| 171 | Thiruppunnamarathur | Near Mayiladuthurai | Punnanatheswarar |
| 172 | Thiruvalaputhur | Near Mayiladuthurai | Manikkavannar |
| 173 | Thiruthullam | Near Mayiladuthurai | Thullamudalvar |
| 174 | Thirukkollikadu | Near Tiruvarur | Agneeswarar |
| 175 | Thirukarugavur | Near Papanasam | Mullaiyavananathar |
| 176 | Thirunallur | Near Papanasam | Kalyanasundareswarar |
| 177 | Thiruavoor | Near Papanasam | Pasupatheeswarar |
| 178 | Thirupalathurai | Papanasam | Palaivananathar |
| 179 | Thiruvaiyaru | Thiruvaiyaru | Panchanadeeswarar |
| 180 | Thiruneythanam | Thillaisthanam | Ghൃതsthaneswarar |
| 181 | Thirumazhapadi | Ariyalur | Vaidyanathaswamy |
| 182 | Thirupazhanam | Near Thiruvaiyaru | Apatsahayeswarar |
| 183 | Thirukandiyur | Near Thiruvaiyaru | Brahmasireeswarar |
| 184 | Thirupoonthuruthi | Near Thiruvaiyaru | Pushpavaneswarar |
| 185 | Thiruvalampozhil | Near Thiruvaiyaru | Atmanatheswarar |
| 186 | Thirukattupalli | Thanjavur region | Agneeswarar |
| 187 | Thirualampozhil | Near Thiruvaiyaru | Atmanatheswarar |
| 188 | Thiruvidamarudur | Near Kumbakonam | Mahalingeswarar |
| 189 | Thirukodikaval | Near Mayiladuthurai | Koteeswarar |
| 190 | Thirumangalakkudi | Near Aduthurai | Prananatheswarar |
| 191 | Thirupanandal | Near Kumbakonam | Senchadaiyappar |
| 192 | Thiruvaapadi | Near Kumbakonam | Paluganatheswarar |
| 193 | Thiruseignalur | Near Kumbakonam | Sathyagireeswarar |
| 194 | Thirundhudevankudi | Near Kumbakonam | Karkadeswarar |
| 195 | Thiruvisanallur | Near Kumbakonam | Sivayoganathar |
| 196 | Thirupurambiyam | Near Kumbakonam | Sakshinatheswarar |
| 197 | Thiruvikramam | Sirkazhi region | Vikramatheswarar |
| 198 | Thirukaruppariyalur | Near Sirkazhi | Kutramporuthanathar |
| 199 | Thirupunkoor | Near Vaitheeswarankoil | Sivalokanathar |
| 200 | Thiruneedur | Near Mayiladuthurai | Somanatheswarar |
| 201 | Thiruppunnamarathur | Near Mayiladuthurai | Punnanatheswarar |
| 202 | Kurukkai | Near Mayiladuthurai | Veerateswarar |
| 203 | Thiruvalaputhur | Near Mayiladuthurai | Manikkavannar |
| 204 | Thiruthullam | Near Mayiladuthurai | Thullamudalvar |
| 205 | Thirukkollikadu | Near Tiruvarur | Agneeswarar |
| 206 | Thirukarugavur | Near Papanasam | Mullaiyavananathar |
| 207 | Thirupariyalur | Near Sirkazhi | Veerateswarar |
| 208 | Thiruvettaikudi | Karaikal | Thirumeninathar |
| 209 | Thirutharumapuram | Karaikal | Dharumapureeswarar |
| 210 | Thirunallar | Karaikal | Dharbaranyeswarar |
| 211 | Thirukkarukavur | Papanasam | Garbharakshambigai |
| 212 | Thiruvalanchuzhi | Kumbakonam | Kapardiswarar |
| 213 | Thirunageswaram | Kumbakonam | Naganathar |
| 214 | Thirukudanthai | Kumbakonam | Kumbeswarar |
| 215 | Thirukudanthai Keezh | Kumbakonam | Nageswarar |
| 216 | Thirukudanthai Karonam | Kumbakonam | Someswarar |
| 217 | Thirunageswaram | Kumbakonam | Naganathaswamy |
| 218 | Thiruvidaimaruthur | Kumbakonam | Mahalingeswarar |
| 219 | Thirukkurugavur | Sirkazhi | Velleeswarar |
| 220 | Sirkazhi | Sirkazhi | Brahmapureeswarar |
| 221 | Thirukolakka | Sirkazhi | Sabdapureeswarar |
| 222 | Thirupullirukkuvelur | Vaitheeswarankoil | Vaidyanathaswamy |
| 223 | Thirukannarkoil | Sirkazhi | Kurumanakudi |
| 224 | Thirukadaimudi | Sirkazhi | Kadaimudinathar |
| 225 | Thirunindriyur | Sirkazhi | Mahalakshmeeswarar |
| 226 | Thirupunkur | Sirkazhi | Sivalokanathar |
| 227 | Thirukkurukai | Mayiladuthurai | Veerateswarar |
| 228 | Thiruneedur | Mayiladuthurai | Somanatheswarar |
| 229 | Thiruppugalur | Nannilam | Agneeswarar |
| 230 | Thirumarugal | Nannilam | Rathnagireeswarar |
| 231 | Thiruchengattangudi | Nannilam | Uthrapatheswarar |
| 232 | Thirumarugal | Nannilam | Rathnagireeswarar |
| 233 | Thirupugalur | Nannilam | Agneeswarar |
| 234 | Thiruvarur | Thiruvarur | Tyagarajar |
| 235 | Thiruvizhimizhalai | Nannilam | Veezhinathar |
| 236 | Thiruvarur Araneri | Thiruvarur | Achaleswarar |
| 237 | Thiruvarur Paravai | Thiruvarur | Paravai Mandali |
| 238 | Thiruvalivalam | Near Tiruvarur | Hridayakamalanathar |
| 239 | Thirukkarayil | Near Tiruvarur | Kannayiranathar |
| 240 | Thirukolili | Thirukuvalai | Brahmapureeswarar |
| 241 | Thiruvaimoor | Near Thirukuvalai | Vaimoornathar |
| 242 | Thirumaraikadu | Vedaranyam | Vedaranyeswarar |
| 243 | Thiruagathiyanpalli | Near Vedaranyam | Agatheeswarar |
| 244 | Thirukkodi | Near Vedaranyam | Kuzhagareswarar |
| 245 | Thirukkadavur | Thirukkadaiyur | Amritaghateswarar |
| 246 | Thirukkadavur Mayanam | Near Thirukkadaiyur | Brahmapureeswarar |
| 247 | Thiruvelvikkudi | Near Kuttalam | Kalyanasundareswarar |
| 248 | Thiruthuruthi | Kuttalam | Uktavedeeswarar |
| 249 | Thirukozhambam | Near Kuttalam | Kokileswarar |
| 250 | Thirumailaduthurai | Mayiladuthurai | Mayuranathaswamy |
| 251 | Thiruvilanagar | Near Mayiladuthurai | Uchira Vaneswarar |
| 252 | Thirupariyalur | Near Mayiladuthurai | Veerateswarar |