Sivayoginathar Temple, Hindu temple with Dravidian architecture in Thiruvisanallur, India
Sivayoginathar Temple is a Hindu temple in Thiruvisanallur, Tamil Nadu, built in the Dravidian style. It is made up of three sections, a five-tiered gateway tower, several courtyards, and carved stone pillars arranged along its corridors.
The temple dates back to the 9th century, when it was built under the Chola dynasty. Inscriptions left by rulers such as Parantaka I and Rajaraja Chola I show that they supported and expanded it during that period.
Shiva is worshipped here under the name Sivayoginathar, while Parvati is known as Mangala Nayagi. Both names shape the daily rituals that local devotees follow as they move from shrine to shrine.
The temple holds six ceremonies each day, and mornings and evenings tend to draw the most visitors. Wearing comfortable footwear is a good idea, as the different sections are explored on foot.
Carved into one of the inner walls is a granite sun clock estimated to be around 1,400 years old, which uses a brass pointer and sunlight to show the time. This stone instrument is one of the few surviving examples of early Indian timekeeping.
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