What is the sthala katha — the legend — of Nageswaraswamy Temple (Kudanthai Keezhkottam)?

Early medieval · Hindu · India

Nageswaraswamy Temple (Kudanthai Keezhkottam)

Kumbakonam, Tamil Nadu · 10.9587°, 79.3787°

Shiva (Nageswarar, lord of the serpent king), consort PeriyanayagiCholaEarly Chola with Pallava influencesPaadal Petra Sthalam

Sacred since

800 CE

first attestation / structure

Standing structure

9th c. (Aditya Chola)

Chola

History & significance

Reckoned among the earliest of all Chola temples, raised in the 9th century under Aditya Chola in Kumbakonam. It is a Paadal Petra Sthalam revered by the Nayanars in the Tevaram.

Sthala katha — the legend

During Rajendra Chola's Ganges expedition the army is said to have brought back a beautiful Vinayagar image, installed here as Gangai Vinayagar.

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Sources

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