Brahmapureeswarar Temple, Thirukkuvalai

Brahmapureeswarar Temple, also known as Thirukolili, is a Shiva temple in Thirukkuvalai, Nagapattinam district, about 15 km from Thiruvarur. Legend holds that Brahma shaped the lingam from white sand, giving the deity his name, and that the Navagrahas worshipped Shiva here to be cleared of their sins; accordingly, the nine planetary images stand in one line. Appar, Sambandar and Sundarar sang of the temple in the Tevaram. Sundarar's prayer here is said to have led Shiva to send grain to his house in Thiruvarur on behalf of an old devotee who could not supply his promised paddy.

The oldest masonry is 9th-century Chola work, and the temple holds 19 inscriptions, including a gift of 800 gold coins under a Pandya king. A five-tiered rajagopuram leads in, and an emerald lingam sits in the sanctum. Thyagaraja is worshipped here as Avani Vidangar, one of the seven Saptha Vidangam images said to dance in procession. It also has three images of Chandikeswara and pillared halls carved with its legends.