Chandra Choodeswarar Temple, Hosur

The Chandra Choodeswarar Temple is an old Shiva temple on a rocky hill in Hosur, Krishnagiri district. Its name describes Shiva as the god who wears the moon on his crest, and his consort Parvati is worshipped here as Maragathambal, the green mother. Because the Hosur area appears in the Bhadragiri Mahatmyam, part of the Brahmanda Purana, a Shiva shrine is thought to have stood here since ancient times, though when it was first consecrated is not recorded.

The temple grew under the Cholas, the Hoysalas and the Vijayanagara rulers. The present structure may have been built in 1260 by a Hoysala king, and inscriptions of Rajendra Chola as well as 13th-century records of donations survive. It was later renovated by Azhakiya Perumal Aathimoolam. Local language differences give the temple several names, among them Chandira Choodeshwarar and Shri Choodeswarar.