Ancient · Hindu · India

Kayarohanaswami Temple

Nagapattinam (Nagaikkaronam), Tamil Nadu · 10.7648°, 79.8431°

Shiva as Kayarohana (consort Nilayathakshi)Pallava-Vijayanagara (rebuilds)—Paadal Petra Sthalam

Sacred since

500 CE

first attestation / structure

Standing structure

6th c.; rebuilt by later dynasties

Pallava-Vijayanagara (rebuilds)

History & significance

A Paadal Petra Sthalam in existence since the 6th century CE and rebuilt by the Pallavas, Cholas and Vijayanagara kings; it is linked to the Lakulisha tradition and houses a Thyagaraja image of lapis lazuli.

Sthala katha — the legend

A Chola king, Mucukunta, is said to have won seven Thyagaraja images from Indra, installed across the Cauvery delta as the Saptha Vidangam shrines whose deities dance in procession.

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