High medieval · Hindu · India

Adipureeswarar (Thyagaraja) Temple

Tiruvottiyur, Chennai, Tamil Nadu · 13.1609°, 80.2992°

Shiva (Adipureeswarar / Thyagaraja), with the goddess Vadivudai AmmanPallava, then Chola under Rajendra Chola I—Paadal Petra Sthalam

Sacred since

600 CE

first attestation / structure

Standing structure

11th c. Chola expansion; 7th c. Pallava origin

Pallava, then Chola under Rajendra Chola I

History & significance

A major Shiva temple in northern Chennai, sung in the Tevaram and counted a Paadal Petra Sthalam, begun under the Pallavas and greatly expanded by Rajendra Chola I. It is also revered as a Shakti Pitha and once served as a centre of learning in philosophy, grammar and religious debate.

Sthala katha — the legend

Sundarar, spreading the Thyagaraja cult from Tiruvarur, was tricked into vowing never to leave Tiruvottiyur and was struck blind when he broke the promise, a quarrel between the two temples still marked each year.

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