Tirtha Atlas

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

1126 sites15 countries4 traditions30 centuries
High medieval · Hindu · India

Thiruneedur Somanathaswami Temple

திருநீடூர் அருட்சோமநாதர் கோயில்

Needur, Mayiladuthurai, Tamil Nadu · 11.1331°, 79.6425°

Somanathaswami (Shiva), with Veyurutholi AmmaiChola—Paadal Petra Sthalam
Sacred since
1070 CE
first attestation / structure
Standing structure
Later Chola era
Chola

History & significance

A Paadal Petra Sthalam on the Kaveri's northern bank, its lord praised in the Tevaram by Tirunavukkarasar and Sundarar. The temple is documented among the Later Chola foundations of the Kulottunga I to Rajendra III era.

Sthala katha — the legend

A demon reborn as a crab for his sins is said to have sought liberation here on the sage Narada's counsel.

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c. 1035 CE
Airavatesvara Temple
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mid-12th c. CE
Meenakshi Amman Temple
Madurai · India
current structure largely 16th–17th c.
Ranganathaswamy Temple
Srirangam, Tiruchirappalli · India
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