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Thirumullaivoyal, Tiruvallur district, Tamil Nadu · 13.1167°, 80.1167°
A 9th-century Chola foundation near Chennai, extended by later Cholas, Pandyas and the Vijayanagara rulers, with an unusual Gaja Prishtam (elephant-back) vimana. It is a Paadal Petra Sthalam revered in the 7th-century Tevaram and belongs to the Shakti triad of Tondaimandalam.
What follows is the temple’s own traditional account, transmitted through liturgy and local memory. It is recorded here as tradition, not as attested history.
The temple's tradition tells of King Thondaiman striking a lingam hidden in dense mullai thickets during a campaign; Shiva and Parvati appeared, helped him defeat two brothers, and he raised the temple on the spot.
coordinates: wikipedia-2026-08-27 · sources retrieved 2026-08-26 · dynasty page: Chola
Answers only from cited records
Opening the line…