Tirtha Atlas

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

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Modern · Hindu · India

Kumarakottam Temple

Kanchipuram, Kanchipuram district, Tamil Nadu · 12.8410°, 79.7010°

Murugan (Subramanya Swami)Pallava origin; rebuilt ModernDravidian
Sacred since
1915 CE
first attestation / structure
Standing structure
rebuilt 1915; chakra vimana of the Chola period
Pallava origin; rebuilt Modern

History & significance

A Murugan temple standing between the Kamakshi Amman and Ekambareswarar temples at Kanchipuram, rebuilt in 1915 and retaining a Chola-period circular chakra vimana. It is one of the city's twenty-one major temples; Arunagirinathar sang its icon, and the priest Kacchiyappar is said to have composed the Kandha Puranam here.

Sthala katha — the legend

The Kandha Puranam relates that Murugan imprisoned Brahma for failing to explain the syllable Om, then did penance before a linga once Shiva ordered the creator's release.

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Sources

coordinates: wikipedia-2026-08-27 · sources retrieved 2026-08-26 · dynasty page: Pallava origin; rebuilt Modern