Sri Uthavedeeswarar temple is located in Kuthalam village, in Nagapattinam district of Tamil Nadu in South India. The main deity of this temple is Uthavedeeswarar (Lord Shiva) and his consort is Arumbanna Vanamulai Nayaki.
The holy tree of this temple is Uddhala tree. The holy waters of this temple are Padma, Sundara and Cauveri theerthams. The agamam or pooja of this temple is known as Kameekam. This temple is nearly 1000-2000 years old in this region. The historical name of this place is Tiruthuruthi.
According to the Hindu religious scholars and pundits, “The temple is praised in the Thevaram hymns of Tirugnanasambandar. This is the 37th Shiva temple on the southern bank of Cauveri praised in Thevaram hymns.”
The important festivals that are grandly celebrated in this temple are Mondays of Karthikai-November-December, Panguni Uthiram in March-April, New Year day as per the Georgian calendar and Hindu traditional calendar, Deepavali, Pongal, Karthikai Deepam in November-December, Vijayadasami in September-October, Vinayaka Chaturthi in August-September, Thai Kruthikai in January-February and Aadi Kruthikai in July-August.
Lord Shiva is a swayambumurthi in the temple. It is strongly believed that Lord Shiva had left the Uddhala tree and His Sandals (Padukas) that wholeheartedly accompanied Him from Mount Kailas in order to offer Him permanent shadow on the way. It is said that as a token of His wedding event in this place, the Lord left these at this place. In the temple, the devotee and pilgrims can have the darshan of the Padukas.