Tirtha Atlas

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

1126 sites15 countries4 traditions30 centuries
Early medieval · Hindu · India

Vriddhagiriswarar Temple, Vriddhachalam

Vriddhachalam (Tirumudukunram), Tamil Nadu · 11.5164°, 79.3288°

Shiva as Vriddhagiriswarar (Pazhamalai Nadhar), with Viruthambigai (Periyanayaki)Chola—Paadal Petra Sthalam
Sacred since
900 CE
first attestation / structure
Standing structure
10th c. (Chola, Sembiyan Mahadevi); reconsecrated 2022
Chola

History & significance

The great temple of Tirumudukunram ('the old hill'), commissioned by the Chola queen Sembiyan Mahadevi, with five gopurams and a chariot-shaped hundred-pillared hall. A Paadal Petra Sthalam held to grant salvation to departed souls even beyond Varanasi's power.

Sthala katha — the legend

Shiva is said to have taken the form of an ancient mountain at Brahma's prayer, earning the name Pazhamalai, the old hill.

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Sources

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