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Kayarohanaswamy Temple

Nagapattinam, Nagapattinam, Tamil Nadu
Lord Shiva
More in Tamil Nadu

Type

Hindu Temple

Deity

Lord Shiva

Pincode

611001

An ancient Shiva temple in the former Chola port city of Nagapattinam, where Shiva is worshipped as Kayarohanaswamy (one who rode a shark). Glorified by all three major Saivite poets (Appar, Sambandhar, Sundarar). The Nilayatakshi Amman shrine here is especially sacred.

History & Significance

Significance

A Shiva temple in Nagapattinam, part of the dense cluster of ancient Chola-era Shaivite shrines along the Kaveri delta pilgrimage routes.

Plan Your Circuit

Nearby Temples

Closest temples by distance — worth combining into the same trip.

Shiva

Saturn (Shani) Navagraha temple. The Shani (Saturn) Navagraha temple at Thirunallaru — one of the most visited in the circuit, as Shani (Saturn) is widely propitiated to ward off hardship.

Thirunallaru Darbaranyeswarar Temple

Thirunallaru, Tamil Nadu17 km
Lord Shiva

Shiva

One of the largest and oldest Shiva temples in Tamil Nadu, covering 25 acres. Lord Thyagaraja (Shiva as the Lord of Dance) is worshipped here with a magnificent Theppam (float festival) on the famous temple tank. The car festival (ther) here uses the world's largest temple chariot.

Thyagarajaswami Temple Thiruvarur

Thiruvarur, Tamil Nadu22 km
Lord Shiva

Ranganatha

One of the 108 Divya Desams — Lord Oppiliappan (Vishnu without blemish) accepts only salt-less food offerings and no Tulsi (holy basil) — unique restrictions found nowhere else. The presiding Goddess Komalavalli (Lakshmi) is said to have manifested here. The temple's beautiful pond and serene atmosphere make it special.

Oppiliappan Vishnu Temple

Thiruvindalur, Tamil Nadu43 km
Lord Ranganatha

Shiva

A major Shiva temple where the Goddess Parvati took the form of a peacock (mayura) to worship Shiva — hence the town is called Mayiladuthurai (city of the peacock goddess). Praised by the Nayanmars, this is one of the Paadal Petra Sthalams (temples in Thevaram literature).

Mayuranathaswamy Temple

Mayiladuthurai, Tamil Nadu43 km
Lord Shiva