Pasupateeswarar Temple, Karur

Pasupateeswarar Temple in Karur, known as Karuvoor when Sambandar visited, is a Shiva temple on the southern bank of the Amaravati, a tributary of the Kaveri. It is one of the 275 Paadal Petra Sthalams, with hymns by Sundarar and Sambandar. Legend says Kamadhenu, the divine cow, meditated on Shiva here; pasu means cow, which gave the deity his name. Brahma is also said to have worshipped here, and the temple tank is called Brahma Theertham.

Inscriptions show that the temple existed under Rajendra Chola, who gifted it land, and it was later favoured by the Kongu Cholas and Kongu Pandyas. The site covers 2.65 acres, and the front gopuram, carved with mythological figures, stands 120 feet high. The lingam is swayambu, or self-manifested, and the goddess appears in two forms, Sundaravalli and Alankaravalli. Inside are two corridors and a hundred-pillared mandapam. For three days in Panguni (mid-March to mid-April) the sun's rays fall on the lingam, and the Brahmotsavam is held that month.