Tirtha Atlas

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

1805 sites15 countries4 traditions30 centuries
High medieval · Hindu · India

Akshayapureeswarar Temple

Vilankulam, Thanjavur district, Tamil Nadu · 10.1981°, 79.2300°

Shiva (Akshayapureeswarar), with a principal shrine to ShaniPandyaDravidian
Sacred since
1200 CE
first attestation / structure
Standing structure
13th c. (Pandya)
Pandya

History & significance

A 13th-century Shiva temple whose inscriptions credit Parakrama Pandyan I, best known as one of the 27 Nakshatra temples of Tamil Nadu, linked to the Pushya asterism and holding a Shani shrine with his consorts Jyestha and Mandha.

Sthala katha — the legend

The legend here has Shani, lamed by Yama, tripping over the roots of a vila tree at this spot on Akshaya Tritiya, whereupon Shiva appeared as Akshayapureeswarar, healed him and blessed him with marriage.

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Sources

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