Tirtha Atlas

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

3031 sites15 countries4 traditions30 centuries
Early medieval · Hindu · India

Pataleeswarar Temple

திருப்பாதிரிப்புலியூர் பாடலேசுவரர் கோயில்

Thirupathiripuliyur, Cuddalore, Tamil Nadu · 11.7484°, 79.7482°

Shiva (Pataleeswarar)Pallava, CholaDravidianPaadal Petra Sthalam
Sacred since
600 CE
first attestation / structure
Standing structure
Pallava to medieval Chola (7th-13th c.)
Pallava, Chola

History & significance

One of the 275 Paadal Petra Sthalams, this temple at Thirupathiripuliyur in Cuddalore grew through the Pallava and medieval Chola periods. It is remembered as the place where the saint Appar returned to Shaivism and later persuaded a Pallava king to abandon Jainism.

Sthala katha — the traditional account

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.

Appar is said to have been cured of a tormenting illness by Shiva's grace here, after which he left Jainism and devoted his life to composing hymns.

Open in Google Maps ↗Wikipedia ↗View on the atlas map

Sources

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