Tirtha Atlas

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

2271 sites15 countries4 traditions30 centuries
Early medieval · Hindu · India

Kanthaswamy Temple, Cheyyur

Cheyyur, Chengalpattu district, Tamil Nadu · 12.3525°, 80.0394°

Murugan as Kanthaswamy, with Valli and DeivasenaCholaDravidian
Sacred since
900 CE
first attestation / structure
Standing structure
10th c. (Chola)
Chola

History & significance

A 10th-century Chola foundation at Cheyyur with rectangular granite walls and a flat rajagopuram on the north, now under the Tamil Nadu HR and CE board. Its sanctum holds a five-foot granite Vel, and rare carvings of the twenty-seven Bhutaganas ring the shrine.

Sthala katha — the legend

Murugan is said to have installed a Shiva image here to cleanse himself of the sin of killing the demon Sooran, and the village is said to take its name from his son Sei, who worshipped him at this spot.

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Sources

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