Rajarajeswaramudaiya Mahadevar Temple, Sivapuram

Rajarajeswaramudaiya Mahadevar Temple, known locally as the Sivapuram Sivan temple, is a Shiva shrine about 100 metres from the Sivapuram bus stop on the road between Thiruvallur and Thakkolam. Rajaraja Chola first built it in the 10th century, and his son Rajendra Chola I enlarged it. Shiva is worshipped here as Rajarajeswaramudaiya Mahadevar, also called Theerthapaleeswarar, with Kamakshi Amman as his consort.

The walls are covered from base to top with inscriptions from the reigns of both kings, which makes the temple a valuable source for anyone studying Tamil epigraphy of the period. One lists the titles of Rajendra Chola I and records his gift of 180 goats to keep two perpetual lamps burning. The Tamil Nadu State Department of Archaeology looks after the temple, which is kept in good order.