Tirtha Atlas

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

1126 sites15 countries4 traditions30 centuries
Early medieval · Hindu · India

Tiruvetkalam Pasupatheswarar Temple

திருவேட்களம் பாசுபதேசுவரர் கோயில்

Annamalai Nagar (Tiruvetkalam), Chidambaram, Tamil Nadu · 11.4000°, 79.7333°

Pasupatheswarar (Shiva), with Nalla NayakiChola—Paadal Petra Sthalam
Sacred since
900 CE
first attestation / structure
Standing structure
Chola origin; renovated 1914
Chola

History & significance

A Paadal Petra Sthalam revered in Sambandar's Tevaram hymns, today standing within the Annamalai University campus near Chidambaram. The Chola-built complex was renovated in 1914 by a Chettiar patron.

Sthala katha — the legend

Arjuna is said to have won the Pasupatha weapon here after Shiva tested him in the guise of a hunter.

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Airavatesvara Temple
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Meenakshi Amman Temple
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Ranganathaswamy Temple
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built up 10th–17th c.; Rajagopuram 1987
Nataraja Temple, Chidambaram
Chidambaram · India
core 10th c.; expanded to 13th c.

Sources

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