Tirtha Atlas

The sacred geography of the Indic world — every site mapped, dated, storied, and cited.

1122 sites15 countries4 traditions30 centuries
Early medieval · Hindu · India

Naganathar Temple

Thirunageswaram, Tamil Nadu · 10.9646°, 79.4293°

Shiva (Naganathar), consort Piraisoodi Amman (Giri Gujambigai)CholaCholaPaadal Petra Sthalam
Sacred since
900 CE
first attestation / structure
Standing structure
10th c. (Aditya Chola)
Chola

History & significance

A Chola-built Paadal Petra Sthalam near Kumbakonam, famous as the Rahu shrine among the Navagraha temples of the Kaveri delta. The presiding Naganathar is revered in the 7th-century Tevaram.

Sthala katha — the legend

Serpent deities led by Adishesha are said to have done penance here and won Shiva's grace, giving the lord his name Naganathar.

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Related sites

Brihadisvara Temple
Thanjavur · India
1003–1010 CE
Brihadisvara Temple, Gangaikonda Cholapuram
Gangaikonda Cholapuram · India
c. 1035 CE
Airavatesvara Temple
Darasuram, Kumbakonam · India
mid-12th c. CE
Meenakshi Amman Temple
Madurai · India
current structure largely 16th–17th c.
Ranganathaswamy Temple
Srirangam, Tiruchirappalli · India
built up 10th–17th c.; Rajagopuram 1987
Nataraja Temple, Chidambaram
Chidambaram · India
core 10th c.; expanded to 13th c.

Sources

coordinates: wikipedia-2026-08-27 · sources retrieved 2026-08-26 · dynasty page: Chola