The Sri Tripurasundari Samedha Shri Vedapuriswarar Thirukoyil, or the Vedapuriswara Koyil for short, is one of the two major Siva temples within the town’s boulevards, and the one whose main deity names Pondicherry as “Vedapuri Kshetram.”
The temple is the largest and most important Siva temple in the town, with the Ayira Vysya Chetty community’s Kalatthiswara Koyil being next in size and stature. It is managed jointly with the Varadaraja Perumal Koyil a bare block to the north. The temple complex has several sub-shrines, including ones to Vinayaka, Murugan, Palani Andavar, Balamurugan, Mahalakshmi and Nataraja, alongside several shrines housing additional lingas (Bhaktapuriswara and Kasi Viswanatha being the more important of these). Its kulam is the source of the theertham for the nearby Draupadi Amman Koyil for preparatory pujas during their Aadi Masam Agni Vasanta Vizha. At its rear is the town’s only living nandavanam or temple garden, with a beautiful maha bilvam (a 19 pinnate-leaf variety of the common Aegle marmelos), old and gnarled nochi (Vitex negundo) grown into a tree, and the uncommon thiruvodu (Crescentia cujete) yet to bear fruit. The Siruthonda Nayanar Thiruthondu Sabhai is very active here in propitiating the 63 Nayanmars, and doing Guru pujas on their respective nakshatra-naal or birthdays. Another group is routinely present at the Durga shrine on Tuesdays and other important days, doing parayanam. Still other groups accompany the Palliyarai swami in a palanquin daily at the temple opening with songs, prayers, conch and damaru sounds (Thirupalliyezhucchi), and once again when the deity is returned to his sleeping chamber at the time of the ardhayama puja and the temple’s closing. The temple conducts its Mahotsavam or annual festival in the month of Vaikasi (May-June) each year.