அருள்மிகு அறம்வளர்த்த நாயகி உடனுறை குலசேகரமுடையார் திருக்கோவில்
Shiva (Kulasekaramudaiyar) temple · Kallidaikurichi, Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu, India
Arulmigu Aramvalartha Nayagi Udanurai Kulasekaramudaiyar Temple is a Hindu temple to Shiva, worshipped as Kulasekaramudaiyar, with his consort Aramvalartha Nayagi, at Kallidaikurichi in Ambasamudram taluk, Tirunelveli district, Tamil Nadu. According to BBC Tamil, it was built by the Pandya king Kulasekara. It belongs to the Tamil Nadu Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department, Daily Thanthi reports.
Faith & Tradition
The temple is known for the return of its bronze Nataraja idol, one of the best-documented idol-restitution cases from Tamil Nadu.
Heritage
On 5 July 1982 the temple's doors were broken and four idols, including the Nataraja, were stolen; the police case was closed in 1984 without progress, BBC Tamil reported. In 2001 the Art Gallery of South Australia bought the 75.7 cm Nataraja, which BBC Tamil describes as a 16th-century piece, and displayed it until 2013.
After the India Pride Project and the Tamil Nadu Idol Wing, led by officer Pon. Manickavel, traced it to Australia, the Nataraja was returned to India and brought to Chennai in September 2019, to be restored to the Kallidaikurichi temple (BBC Tamil; Dinamalar; Daily Thanthi).
Plan Your Visit
Confirm darshan timings with the HR&CE temple administration before visiting.
Timings and arrangements change with seasons and festivals. Confirm current details with Tamil Nadu HR&CE Department before travelling. Last reviewed 5 October 2026.
Location
Kallidaikurichi is near Ambasamudram in Tirunelveli district, Tamil Nadu.
Location: Kallidaikurichi, Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu, India
More in Hindu temples in Tamil Nadu · Shiva (Kulasekaramudaiyar) temples
Questions
At Kallidaikurichi in Ambasamudram taluk, Tirunelveli district, Tamil Nadu.
BBC Tamil attributes it to the Pandya king Kulasekara.
On 5 July 1982, along with three other idols.
At the Art Gallery of South Australia, which had bought it in 2001.
It was returned to India and brought to Chennai in September 2019.
Further reading: Kulasekaramudaiyar – Aramvalartha Nayagi Temple, Kallidaikurichi on Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).
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