Soundareswararswamy Temple, Thiruppanaiyur

Soundareswararswamy Temple
Religion
Affiliation	Hinduism
District	Tiruvarur
Deity	Soundareswararswamy Swamy(Shiva)
Location
Location	Thiruppanaiyur, Tiruvarur, Tamil Nadu, India
State	Tamil Nadu
Country	India
Location in Tamil Nadu
Geographic coordinates	10°51′47″N 79°39′24″E
Architecture
Type	Dravidian architecture

The Soundareswararswamy Temple or Sountharyanathar temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to the god Shiva. It is situated in the village of Thiruppanaiyur, three and a half kilometres from Nannilam. The temple is centred on a palmyra tree which is the sthalavriksha. The palmyra tree gives its name to the village itself ("Thiru" (holy) + "Panai" (palm) + "Ur" (city) or the "city of the holy palm")

Significance

It is one of the shrines of the 275 Paadal Petra Sthalams.

The temple is popular due to its association with the Early Chola king Karikala. It is believed that Karikala was standing under the palmyra tree when the royal elephant of the Cholas identified him as the king. Karikala was then taken to the capital on elephant back to be crowned Emperor.

References

• "Sountharyanathar Temple" (in Tamil).
• Tourist Guide to Tamil Nadu. Sura Books. p. 66. ISBN 978-81-7478-177-2.

Photogallery

• 
  Main entrance
• 
  Vimana of the presiding deity
• 
  Nandi facing temple tank