Tirtha Atlas

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

1126 sites15 countries4 traditions30 centuries
Early medieval · Hindu · India

Pasupateeswarar Temple, Karur

கருவூர் பசுபதீசுவரர் கோயில்

Karur (Karuvoor Aanilai), Tamil Nadu · 10.9606°, 78.0785°

Shiva as Pasupateeswarar (Aanilaiappar), with Sundaravalli and AlankaravalliChola grantsPaadal Petra Sthalam
Sacred since
600 CE
first attestation / structure
Standing structure
by 7th c. (Tevaram era); Chola land grants from Rajendra I
Chola grants

History & significance

The ancient temple of Karuvoor Aanilai in Karur town, a Paadal Petra Sthalam where Sambandar and Sundarar sang, later endowed by Rajendra Chola and patronised by Kongu Chola, Kongu Pandya and Vijayanagara rulers. Its swayambu lingam stands behind a 120-foot gopuram.

Sthala katha — the legend

The celestial cow Kamadhenu is said to have worshipped the lingam here, and Brahma's worship gave the tank its name Brahma Theertham.

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Related sites

Brihadisvara Temple
Thanjavur · India
1003–1010 CE
Airavatesvara Temple
Darasuram, Kumbakonam · India
mid-12th c. CE
Meenakshi Amman Temple
Madurai · India
current structure largely 16th–17th c.
Nataraja Temple, Chidambaram
Chidambaram · India
core 10th c.; expanded to 13th c.
Ekambareswarar Temple
Kanchipuram · India
Chola core; Vijayanagara gopuram 1509
Ramanathaswamy Temple
Rameswaram · India
12th–18th c. (great corridor 18th c., Sethupathis)

Sources

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