Shiva Temple at Sivakasi:

The story goes that around 1428-1460 CE King Harikesari Parakkirama Pandian fruled rom Tenkasi decided to build a temple in honour of Lord Shiva in his palace. He set out to Kasi to worship Lord Shiva and bring back a holy Shivalingam. En route from Kasi to Tenkasi the king and his men decided to rest in a quiet valley to regain strength. However, when it was time to keep moving, the animal carrying the Shivalingam on his back refused to move. The animal was stubborn, and despite everyone’s efforts he refused to move. The valley that they had rested in was chosen by Shiva: he wanted to stay in this place, and so he should.

The temple for Shiva was built, and in time the town of Sivakasi sprouted around this holy ground. The temple is known as the Arulmigu Sree Viswanathaswami Temple, and has remained in the heart of the city since its original construction. The name Sivakasi means, "Siva from Kasi," true to the very first origins of the place.

Lining the walls of the Sivan Kovil, the story is brightly depicted for all visitors and regular worshipers to see. The temple itself is said to hold the very same Sivalingam that was brought to Sivakasi over 500 years ago.In 1889, after the Sivakasi Sack agitation against Shanar Community in their claim to control the management of Sivakasi Viswanathar Temple, the temple premises was closed for more than four decades (1889-1939). In the year 1949 the Viswanathaswami temple management was taken over by Nadar community and contributed their wealth and might to bring back its glory. 63 Nayanmars were installed in the temple and a grand consecration was performed in 1966 by the management of Sivkasi Nadar council.

Tenkasi Temple King Tower (RajaGopuram) Restoration:

Till the year 1967 the Gopuram was of a flat type due to destrcution of the Rajagopuram due to fire .in 1824 and for the next 150 years or so the Rajagopuram remained in 2 broaken parts. Only during the tenure of Dr.M.G.Ramachandara n, the initiative of Restoration got into dynamism and In the year 1990, a beautiful tower came into being. Today, the temple looks so majestically with the 180 feet tall tower.

The Tenkasi Kasi Viswanathar temple is a palace of sculptural skill of the stone craftsmen of Tamilnadu. It is believed that Lord Shiva came as a Sivanadiyar in Tenkasi and assited Parakkirama Pandiyan while building the temple in Tenkasi. Parkkirama Pandiyan made a remarkable Stone scripture requesting that in case this temple and tower gets deteriorated, he would befall and pray on the feet on anyone who would restore the temple to its glory.

Rajagopuram: Those who worship in Tenkasi get the same benefit of worship undertaken in Utharakasi (Varanasi). The Durga in Tenkasi faces the west, opposite to the swami sannidhanam, while the tradition is that Goddes Durga faces the North in almost temples. The sculptures are made of single stone. The Balcony facility in the 9th tier of the gopuram is a facility to the devotees to have an aerial look of the town Tenkasi.

The construction of the Rajagopuram (tower) was inaugurated by Parakrama Pandian in AD 1440-1457 AD and was completed in the year 1505-1518. The Gopuram caught fire in 1824 and was in a bad condition from 1826 to 1966. The Rajagopuram Restoration committee was headed by Dr.B.Sivanthi Adityan who also donated liberally to the restoration of the Rajagopuram at the initiative of Dr.M.G.Ramachandran while he was the Chief Minister of the state. Then the renovation began and was completed in the year 1990. The Rajagopuram is 180 feet tall and is a masterpiece of aesthetic beauty. A 2-5 feet wide pathway is also provided in the tower in the 9th tier to have an aerial look of Tenkasi. One enjoys the pleasure of walking on the sky while making a round in the tower. Again the mahakumbabhishekam of Sri Kasi Viswanathar - Sri Ulaganayaki Temple at Tenkasi was performed on Friday after 15 years in March 2006 with the renovation committee, headed by B. Sivanthi Adityan, , who also headed the previous restoration team