Theru

Temple cars or Temple chariots are used to carry representations of Hindu deities around the streets of the temple on festival days. These chariots are generally manually pulled by the devotees of the deity.

As of 2004, the Indian state Tamil Nadu had 515 wooden carts, 79 of which needed repairs. Annamalaiyar Temple, Tiruvannamalai, Chidambaram Natarajar Temple are among the temples that possess these huge wooden chariots for regular processions.

The Natarajar Temple celebrates the chariot festival twice a year; once in the summer (Aani Thirumanjanam, which takes place between June and July) and another in winter (Marghazhi Thiruvaadhirai, which takes place between December and January). Lord Krishna of Udupi has five temple cars, namely ''Brahma ratha'' (the largest), ''Madya ratha'' (medium), ''kinyo'' (small), and the silver and gold rathas.

The size of the largest temple cars inspired the Anglo-Indian term Juggernaut (from Jagannath), signifying a tremendous, virtually unstoppable force or phenomenon.

History

Temple cars are used during festivals called ''Ratha Yatra'', a procession in a chariot accompanied by the public. It typically refers to a procession (journey) of deities, people dressed like deities, or simply religious saints and political leaders. The term appears in medieval texts of India such as the Puranas, which mention the Ratha Yatra of Surya (Sun god), of Devi (Mother goddess), and of Vishnu. These chariot journeys have elaborate celebrations where the individuals or the deities come out of a temple accompanied by the public journeying with them through the ''Ksetra'' (region, streets) to another temple or to the river or the sea. Sometimes the festivities include returning to the sacrosanctum of the temple.

Traveler Fa-Hien who visited India during 400 CE notes the way temple car festivals were celebrated in India.

Early photographs and lithography of temple chariots

File:Car Procession In Bangalore.jpg, Someshwara Temple chariot in 1918.
File:Ratha Jatra optocht met versierde wagens ter ere van Jagannath in Madurai, RP-F-F80205.jpg, Chariot procession in Madurai in 1872.
File:Banashankari Car.jpg, Banashankari Temple (Badami) chariot in 1855.
File:Kurt boeck indien nepal 076B.jpg, Srirangam Temple chariot in the 1890s.
File:Juggernaut Car, Madras MET DT6337.jpg, Juggernaut Car, Madras, 1850.
File:The Kumari jatra. Three temple cars outside the Hanuman Dhoka, or Old Palace, Kathmandu - Oldfield collection (1850-1863) - BL WD 3279.jpg, Three temple cars outside the Hanuman Dhoka, or Old Palace, Kathmandu - Oldfield collection (1850-1863)
File:Juggernaut.jpeg, The Car of Juggernaut, as depicted in the 1851 ''Illustrated London Reading Book''
File:Juggernaut kar in het Ulsoor tempelcomplex te Bangalore in India, KITLV 92036.tiff, Temple car in Bangalore, 1870

Largest temple chariot

The procession of the Asia's largest and greatest temple car of Thiruvarur Thiyagarajar Temple in Tamil Nadu features prominently in an ancient festival held in the town. The annual chariot festival of the Thygarajaswamy temple is celebrated during April – May, corresponding to the Tamil month of Chitrai. The chariot is the largest of its kind in Asia and India weighing 300 tons with a height of 90 feet. The chariot comes around the four main streets surrounding the temple during the festival. The event is attended by lakhs of people from all over Tamil Nadu.

The Aazhi Ther is the biggest temple chariot in Tamil Nadu. The 30-foot tall temple car, which originally weighed 220 tons, is raised to 96 feet with bamboo sticks and decorative clothes, taking its total weight to 350 tons. Mounted on the fully decorated temple car, the presiding deity – Lord Shiva – went around the four streets with the devotees pulling it using huge ropes. Two bulldozers were engaged to provide the required thrust so that devotees could move the chariot.

Gallery

File:Taladhwaja, Darpadalana and Nandighosha in 2021 Ratha Jatra.jpg, Taladhwaja, Darpadalana and Nandighosha in 2021 Ratha Jatra, Odisha, India.
File:Chidambaram festival.jpg, Temple festival in Chidambaram, Tamil Nadu, India.
Tiruvarur temple car festival 2010.jpg, Tiruvarur temple car, the largest (chariot) temple car in the world, it weighing with a height of .
Theru.JPG, Type of temple car called ''Theru'' from the Chettikulangara Kumbha Bharani, Kerala
Kuthira.JPG, Type of temple car called ''Kuthira'' from the Chettikulangara Kumbha Bharani, Kerala
Decorated chariot, Udupi, India.jpg, Temple car (decorated), Udupi, Karnataka, India.
File:Bisket Jatra Chariot Bhaktapur.jpg, Bisket Jatra Chariot Bhaktapur, Nepal.
Nellaiappar Temple Golden Car Nov 2 2009.jpg, Picture of Tirunelveli Nellaiappar Temple Golden car.
தேர்.jpg, Picture of Alwarkurichi People pulling Sivasailanathaswamy Temple car.
File:Taladhwaja, Darpadalana and Nandighosha in 2021 Ratha Jatra Taladhwaja, Darpadalana and Nandighosha Ratha in fornt of Jagananth temple in 2021 Ratha Jatra.jpg, Temple cars in front of Jagananth temple, 2021

List of places with traditional Temple cars

India

Tamil Nadu

* Alagar Kovil (Kallazhagar Temple)
* Alwarkurichi, Tenkasi
* Aragalur
* Avinashi (Sri Avanashiappar Temple)
* Bhavani Kooduthoorai, Tamil Nadu (4 chariots)
* Coimbatore (Koniamman Temple)
* Chidambaram (Nataraja Temple)
* Dindigul (Abiramiyamman Kovil)
* Denkanikottai (Betarayaswamy Kovil)
* Erode ( Chennimalai, Sivagiri, Sivanmalai, Vijayamangalam)
* Gobichettipalayam (Sri Kondathukalaimman Temple, Sri Balamurugan Temple and others)
* Hosur (Chandra Choodeswarar Temple)
* Kadayanallur
* Kalaiyar Kovil (Swarna Kaleeswarar Temple)
* Kallal Town (Somasundareswarer Kovil)
* Kanchipuram (Varadharaja Perumal Temple, Ekambareswarar Temple and others)

Karuvalur
(Shri Mariamman Kovil)
* Karamadai (Ranganathaswamy temple)
* Kumbakonam (Sri Saarangapani Temple, Adi Kumbeswarar Temple and others)
* Lalgudi (Saptharishishwarar Temple, Lalgudi)
* Madurai (Sri Meenakshi Amman Temple and others)
* Mannargudi (Sri vidhya Rajagopalaswamy temple)
* Minjur (Sri Ekambaranathar temple)
* Mylapore, Chennai (Sri Kapaleeshwarar Temple)
* Nanguneri (Vanamamalai Perumal Temple)
* North Authoor (Sri Somanathar Somasundari Temple)
* Palani (Sri Dhandayudhapani Temple)
* Perur (Sri Patteewarar Temple)
* Pillaiyarpatti (Sri Karpaga Vinayagar Temple)
* Rameswaram (Ramanathaswamy Temple)
* Sakkottai, Karaikudi
* Samayapuram (Maariamman Temple)
* Sankarankovil (Sankara Narayanasamy Temple)
* Srivaikuntam (Srivaikuntanathan Permual Temple) – (Fourth largest temple car in Tamil Nadu)
* Suchindram (Thanumalayan Temple)
* Srivilliputtur (Srivilliputhur Andal Temple) - (Second largest temple car in Tamil Nadu)
* Salem ( Elampillai, Aranagalur, Rasipuram)
* Sholinghur (Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Temple)
* Srimushnam (Bhu Varaha Swamy Temple) - Second largest temple car in Tamilnadu)
* Srirangam (Sri Ranganatha Swamy Temple)
* Tenkasi (Kasi Viswanathar Temple, Tenkasi)
* Tiruchendur (Sri Subramanya Swami temple)
* Tiruchirappalli (Thayumanavar Temple)
* Thanjavur (Brihadeeswara Temple)
* Thirukkadaiyur (Amritaghateswarar-Abirami Temple)
* Thirukkurungudi (Thirukkurungudi Vaishnava Nambi Temple)
* Thirukoshtiyur (Sri Sowmiya Narayana Perumal Temple)
* Thirunageswaram (Oppiliappan Temple)
* Thirunallar (Dharbaranyeswarar Temple)
* Thiruparankundram (Subramaniya Swamy Temple)
* Thirupathiripuliyur (Padaleeswarar temple)
* Thiruthangal (Ninra Narayana Perumal Temple)
* Thiruvanaikaval (Jambukeswarar Temple)
* Thiruvanthipuram, (Devanathaswamy temple)
* Thiruvarur (Thiyagarajar Temple) - (First largest temple car in Asia)
* Tirunelveli (Sri Nellaiappar Temple) – (Third largest temple car in Tamil Nadu)
* Tiruchengode (Sri Arthanareeswarar Temple) - (Fourth largest temple car in Tamil Nadu)
* Tiruvannamalai (Annamalaiyar Temple, 5 Chariots)
* Tirupattur (Aruilmigu Muthukumara Swamy Thirukkovil, God Shiva chariot)
* Thirthahalli
* Tiruvallur
* Tiruvidaimarudur (Mahalinga Swamy Temple) Chariots
* Triplicane, Chennai (Sri Parthasarathy Temple)
* Thungapuram (Ariyalur-Perambalur)
* Vaitheeswaran Koil (vaidyanatha Swamy Temple)
* Vedaranyam (Vedaranyeswarar Temple)
* Vickramasingapuram (Sivanthiappar Kovil)
* Virudhunagar
* Vasudevanallur (Sri Cinthamani Nathar temple (arthanathiswarar temple)

Karnataka

* Banavasi

* Bengaluru ( Someshwara Temple)

* Bantwal
* Gokarna (Sri Mahabaleshwara Temple)
* Hampi (Immovable stone chariot built by Vijayanagara Kings)
* Karinjeshwara
* Kateel (Shri Durga Parameshwari Temple)
* Kollur, Udupi ( Mookambika Temple)
* Mangalore (Shri Venkataraman temple)
* Nanjangud ( Srikanteshwara Temple)
* Mulki (Shree Venkataramana Temple)
* Mulki (Shree Kalikamba Temple)
* Mulki (Shri Bappanadu Temple)
* Mysuru ( Chamundeshwari Temple)
* Puttur, (Shri Maha Lingeshsara Temple)
* Suratkal
* Udupi
* Idagunji (Mahaganapathi Temple)

Odisha

* Bhubaneswar
* Puri

Kerala

* Chettikulangara, ( Chettikulangara Devi Temple)
* Cherai
* Palakkad, Kerala (Many temples in settlements of Palakkad)

Andhra Pradesh

* Kadiri (Sri Khadri Lakshmi Narasimha Swami Temple)
* Koduru
* Mangalagiri (Sri Panakaala Lakshmi Narasimha Swami Temple)
* Srikalahasti (Sri Kalahastheeswara Temple)
* Tirumala (Sri Venkateshwara Temple)
*(Sri Bala Tripura sundare sametha sangamesara swami temple sangam jagarala mudi)

Others

* Manali New Town (Aiyya Temple)
* Yanam

Malaysia

* George Town (Nattukkottai Chettiar Temple)
* Kuala lumpur (Seri Maha Mariamman Temple Devasthanam)
* Teluk Intan (Nagarathaar Sri Thendayuthapani)

Sri Lanka

* Colombo
* Trincomalee ( Koneswaram temple)

Germany

* Hamm, Germany (Sri Kamadchi Ampal Temple)

List of places with golden Temple cars

Andhra Pradesh

* Lord Shiva temple
* Narasimhaswami temple and tirumala Sri vari ratham

Karnataka

* Gokarna (Shri Mahabaleshwar temple)
* Kateel (Shri Durga Parameshwari temple)
* Kollur ( Mookambika Temple)
* Konchady, Mangalore (Mahalasa Narayani Temple)
* Udupi (Sri Krishna matha)

Puducherry

* Sri Arulmigu Manakula Vinayagar, Pondicherry, Puducherry

Tamil Nadu

* Arulmigu Maruntheeswar, Thiruvanmiyur, Chennai
* Arulmigu Devi Karumariamman, Thiruverkadu, Chennai
* Arulmigu Vadapalani Andavar, Vadapalani, Chennai
* Arulmigu Kamatchiamman, Mangadu, Chennai
* Arulmigu Kanthaswamy, Parktown, Chennai
* Arulmigu Mundakakanniamman, Mylapore, Chennai
* Arulmigu Kapaleeswarar, Mylapore, Chennai
* Maruthamalai, Coimbatore ( Subramanya Swamy Temple)
* Coimbatore ( Eachanari Vinayagar Temple)
* Coimbatore ( Thandu Mariamman Temple)
* Arulmigu MeenakshiSundareswarar, Madurai
* Arulmigu Solaimalai Murugan, Pazhamudircholai, Alagarkovil Madurai
* Arulmigu Jambukeswarar, Thiruvanaikkaval, Trichy
* Arulmigu Nellaiappar Temple, Tirunelveli
* Arulmigu Ramanathaswamy, Rameswaram
* Arulmigu Subramaniaswamy, Thiruchendur
* Arulmigu Kamatchiamman, Kanchipuram
* Arulmigu Dandayuthapaniswamy, Palani
* Arulmigu Swaminathaswamy, Swamimalai
* Arulmigu Subramanyaswamy, Thiruttani
* Arulmigu Anjaneyaswamy, Namakkal
* Arulmigu Pachaimalai Murugan, Gobichettipalayam
* Arulmigu Pariyur Kondathu Kaliamman, Gobichettipalayam
* Arulmigu Mariamman, Bannari, Erode
* Arulmigu Velayuthaswamy, Thindalmalai, Erode
* Arulmigu Arthanareeswarar, Tiruchengode
* Arulmigu Subramaniyaswamy, Sivanmalai, Tirupur
* Arulmigu Kottaimariamman, Dindigul
* Arulmigu Arunachaleswarar, Thiruvannamalai
* Arulmigu Vaidhyanathaswamy, Vaitheeswaran Kovil
* Arulmigu Mahalinga Swamy Temple, Thiruvidaimarudur (SILVER CHARIOT)
* Arulmigu SankaraNarayanaswamy, Sankarankovil
* Nanguneri (Arulmigu Vanamamalai Perumal)
* Arulmigu Balamurugan, Raththinagiri
* Arulmigu Mariamman, Samayapuram
* Arulmigu Masaniamman, Anamalai
* Arulmigu Mathurakaliyamman, Siruvachur, Perambalur District
* Arulmigu Angalaparameshwari Amman, Melmalayanur, Villupuram District
* Arulmigu Natarajar Temple, Chidambaram, Cuddalore District - the chariot for Pichandavar on the eighth day of 10-day long festival

* Arulmigu Yoga Lakshmi Narasimar temple, Sholinghur, Ranipet district.
* Arulmigu Vijayapuri Amman temple, Vijayamangalam,Erode

As of 2024-2025

Tallest Temple Chariot in the World – 150 Feet by Team Nehru Ambalathum Bhagam Thottuva,Pathanamthitta, Kerala. As of 2025, the tallest wooden temple chariot in the world, standing at 150 feet, was constructed by Team Nehru Ambalathum Bhagam for the Thottuva Sri Bharanikavu & Kannambillil Devi Temple in Pathanamthitta, Kerala. Crafted from palm trees and wild jack wood, this magnificent chariot is an engineering marvel and a symbol of devotion. The chariot is the main attraction of the Kumbha Bharani (Meena Bharani) festival, where hundreds of devotees participate in pulling it through the temple streets, creating a spectacular spiritual event.

2025 ലെ കണക്കനുസരിച്ച്, ലോകത്തിലെ ഏറ്റവും ഉയരം കൂടിയ തടി ക്ഷേത്ര രഥം, 150 അടി ഉയരത്തിൽ, ടീം നെഹ്‌റു അമ്പലത്തും ഭാഗം, കേരളത്തിലെ പത്തനംതിട്ടയിലെ തോട്ടുവ ശ്രീ ഭരണിക്കാവ് & കണ്ണമ്പിള്ളിൽ ദേവി ക്ഷേത്രത്തിനായി നിർമ്മിച്ചു. ഈന്തപ്പനകൾ, തേക്ക് മരം, സ്റ്റീൽ എന്നിവ ഉപയോഗിച്ച് നിർമ്മിച്ച ഈ മനോഹരമായ രഥം ഒരു എഞ്ചിനീയറിംഗ് അത്ഭുതവും ഭക്തിയുടെ പ്രതീകവുമാണ്.

In Tamil Nadu, there are 515 wooden chariots, with several undergoing restoration. Notable temples possessing these massive wooden chariots for regular processions include Annamalaiyar Temple (Tiruvannamalai), Chidambaram Natarajar Temple, and Thyagaraja Temple (Thiruvarur). The Natarajar Temple celebrates the chariot festival twice a year—Aani Thirumanjanam (June–July) and Marghazhi Thiruvaadhirai (December–January). Similarly, Lord Krishna of Udupi has five temple cars, including the Brahma Ratha (largest), Madya Ratha (medium), Kinyo (small), and the silver and gold rathas.

Tamil Nadu had 515 wooden temple chariots, 79 of which required repairs. Major temples with large chariots included Annamalaiyar Temple (Tiruvannamalai) and Chidambaram Natarajar Temple.

See also

* Ratha
* Carroccio
* Carriage

References

{{Commons category, Temple chariots

Chariots
Tamil culture