Where Siva Was Worshipped by Sage Rishyashringa

HIRUVUR, in Thiruvallur District, is home to a Siva temple where this deity is worshipped as Singan-dishwarar (Shringandish-warar). It is an ancient village which was once called Turugur, as revealed by a 13th-century Chola inscription found in this temple.

- CHITHRA MADHAVAN [e-mail]

HIRUVUR, in Thiruvallur District, is home to a Siva temple where this deity is worshipped as Singan-dishwarar (Shringandish-warar). It is an ancient village which was once called Turugur, as revealed by a 13th-century Chola inscription found in this temple. It was a part of a place called Perumulaiyur, alias Ulagalanda Chola Chaturvedimangalam, a subdivision of Ikkattu Kottam. The name Ulagalanda Chola Chaturvedimangalam is after the title 'Ulagalanda Chola', which, according to scholars, could have been a title of Rajadhiraja Chola I (1018-1054 CE), as perhaps a land survey was undertaken in his reign. The Singandishwarar temple was, till recent times, in a dilapidated state as photographs inside the temple indicate. Due to the efforts of a few devotees, this temple has been rebuilt, and regular worship is now conducted.