Tirtha Atlas

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

1126 sites15 countries4 traditions30 centuries
Late medieval · Hindu · India

Vadukeeswarar Temple, Thiruvandarkoil

வடுகூர்

Thiruvandarkoil (Thiru Vadukur), Puducherry · 11.9191°, 79.6573°

Shiva as Vadukeeswarar, with Parvati as Thiripura SundariChola—Paadal Petra Sthalam
Sacred since
1500 CE
first attestation / structure
Standing structure
16th c. masonry; Chola-era origins with Parantaka I inscriptions
Chola

History & significance

The Paadal Petra Sthalam of ancient Thiru Vadukur, now Thiruvandarkoil in Puducherry, its Chola core attested by inscriptions of Parantaka I, Rajaraja I, Kulothunga I and Rajendra III beneath a 16th-century rebuilding.

Sthala katha — the legend

The name Vadukeeswarar - 'he who quivered' - recalls Shiva's severing of the fifth head of a prideful Brahma.

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Sources

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