Tirtha Atlas

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

1805 sites15 countries4 traditions30 centuries
High medieval · Hindu · India

Penneswaraar Temple

Penneswaramadam, Kaveripattinam, Krishnagiri district, Tamil Nadu · 12.3934°, 78.2457°

Shiva (Penneswarar)CholaChola
Sacred since
1188 CE
first attestation / structure
Standing structure
1188 CE (Kulottunga Chola III)
Chola

History & significance

Built in 1188 by Kulottunga Chola III after his victory over the Hoysalas, this Krishnagiri-district Shiva temple carries the district's tallest rajagopuram, some forty-two inscribed stones from successive dynasties, and the largest concentration of Navakandam sculptures in Tamil Nadu.

Sthala katha — the legend

Parashurama is said to have prayed to Shiva at Penneswaramadam after destroying the wicked Kshatriyas twenty-one times.

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Ranganathaswamy Temple
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built up 10th–17th c.; Rajagopuram 1987
Nataraja Temple, Chidambaram
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Sources

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