Spiritual PlaceHindu temple

Sivalokanathar Temple, Tirupunkur

Village Shiva temple near Vaitheeswaran Koil where the Nandi is said to have moved aside for Nandanar

Photo: பா.ஜம்புலிங்கம் · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

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01 — The story

Sivalokanathar Temple is a Shiva temple in the village of Tirupunkur, also written Thirupunkur, about 3 miles west of Vaitheeswaran Koil in Tamil Nadu. The Tevaram poet Tirunavukkarasar wrote of its deity.

The temple is tied to the story of Nandanar, a Saivite saint counted among the 63 Nayanmars. Because he was a Dalit, Nandanar was not allowed inside. According to the legend, Shiva commanded the Nandi in the precincts to shift a few inches so that it would not block Nandanar's view of the shrine from the gate.

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02 — About

Coming soon

We’re still writing about Sivalokanathar Temple, Tirupunkur: its history, what’s there and why it’s worth the trip.