The sacred geography of the Indic world — every site mapped, dated, storied, and cited.
திருவைகாவூர் வில்வவனேசுவரர் கோயில்
Thiruvaikavur, Tamil Nadu · 10.9947°, 79.2863°
A Paadal Petra Sthalam north of Kumbakonam on the Kollidam's southern side, revered in the Tevaram by Appar, Sundarar and Sambandar; the temple has a five-tiered gateway tower and the Yama Theertham tank.
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.
A hunter chased up a vilva tree on Shivaratri unknowingly showered its leaves on a lingam all night, and the pleased Shiva later saved him from Yama, the god of death.
coordinates: wikipedia-2026-08-27 · sources retrieved 2026-08-26 · dynasty page: Chola
Answers only from cited records
Opening the line…