What is the sthala katha — the legend — of Vanchinadha Swamy Temple?

High medieval · Hindu · India

Vanchinadha Swamy Temple

திருவாஞ்சியம் வாஞ்சிநாதசுவாமி கோயில்

Srivanchiyam (Tiruvanchiyam), Tamil Nadu · 10.8732°, 79.5729°

Shiva as Vanchinadha Swamy (consort Mangalambigai)Chola—Paadal Petra Sthalam

Sacred since

1000 CE

first attestation / structure

Standing structure

11th c. (Chola)

Chola

History & significance

One of the 275 Paadal Petra Sthalams revered in the Tevaram, with an 11th-century Chola masonry structure expanded by the Thanjavur Nayaks in the 16th century.

Sthala katha — the legend

Shiva is said to have appeared as Vanchinathar at the village border to halt Yama when the god of death pursued a sage doing penance here.

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core 10th c.; expanded to 13th c.

Sources

Wikipedia

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