Padavedu Rishi (Lord Buddha) Temple, Thiruvannamalai

Address

Padavedu Rishi (Lord Buddha) Temple, Padavedu Village, Polur Taluk, Thiruvannamalai district, Tamilnadu- 632315.

Diety

Lord Buddha

Introduction

Padavedu (Padaiveedu) = Garrison), is a pastoral village located in Polur taluk, Tiruvannamalai district, Tamil Nadu, India. Rishi Temple or (Lord Budha Temple) is located near Renugambal Temple. Rishi idol was retrieved at this spot and consecrated in the newly built temple.

Puranic Significance

Rishi Temple is located near Renugambal Temple. Rishi Statue was found and consecrated in the newly built temple. There might be old temple dedicated to this rishi. Some dilapidated sculptures can be seen around this temple. Rishi Statue looks similar to Lord Buddha. There might be an Old Buddhist Vihara functioning in this area in the bygone era. Some thorough archaeological excavations have to be done to establish this fact. The idol is believed to be more than 1000 years old. Padavedu is a place where Rishis and Saints performed penance and attained Mukthi. Saint Jamadagni and Renukamabal resided here in this place. It is the birth place of Parasuramar, one of the Dasavataram of Lord Vishnu. The place is on the banks of Kamandala River. Water from the kamandalam of Jamadagni Muni was dropped here in this place and it took the form of a River which extinguished the fire from Chamundeeswari. Hence River here is known as Kamandala River. Due to natural disaster the temples in this place were ruined and some vanished in to the sand. Few temples were unearthed and renovated in recent years. This is one of the old temples here. Due to natural disaster the temple was ruined. The temple was reconstructed by devotees.