Tirtha Atlas

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

2271 sites15 countries4 traditions30 centuries
Late medieval · Hindu · India

Chakrapani Temple

Kumbakonam, Thanjavur district, Tamil Nadu · 10.9634°, 79.3732°

Chakrapani (Vishnu as the Sudarshana chakra), with Vijayalakshmi ThayarNayakaDravidian
Sacred since
1400 CE
first attestation / structure
Standing structure
15th c. (Nayaka)
Nayaka

History & significance

One of the principal Vishnu temples of Kumbakonam, where the deity is worshipped in the form of the discus Sudarshana rather than as an anthropomorphic image. Lacking inscriptions, it is dated to the 15th century on the evidence of its granite walls, five-tiered rajagopuram and carved pillars.

Sthala katha — the legend

The legend tells that the Sudarshana chakra humbled the pride of Surya, who then worshipped it until his powers were restored.

Open in Google Maps ↗Wikipedia ↗View on the atlas map

Sources

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