Tirtha Atlas

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

3031 sites15 countries4 traditions30 centuries
High medieval · Hindu · India

Pavalavannam Perumal Temple

Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu · 12.8436°, 79.7075°

Pavalavannar PerumalCholaDravidianDivya Desam
Sacred since
1000 CE
first attestation / structure
Standing structure
11th c. (Chola)
Chola

History & significance

A Divya Desam attributed to the Cholas, carrying inscriptions of Rajadhiraja Chola and Kulothunga Chola I, with later Vijayanagara contributions. It forms a pair with the Pachaivannar temple standing axially across the road.

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.

Vishnu is said to have assumed the hue called pavalam here in the Treta Yuga, and so came to be worshipped as Pavalavannar.

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Sources

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