Brihadeeswarar Temple, Sripurandan, Ariyalur
Brihadeeswarar
Temple is dedicated to Hindu God Shiva located at Sripuranthan Village in T.
Palur Taluk in Ariyalur District of Tamilnadu. Epigraphically evidences show
that the Siva temples at Sendurai, Sennivanam and Sripurandan belong to the
periods of Rajaraja-I (985-1014), Rajendra–I (1012-1044) and Kulothunga–III
(1178-1218) respectively. The village became famous in 2008, when thefts of 8
idols were discovered from a 9th-century Chola temple was discovered by Government of India
officials.
One of
these idols, the Sripuranthan Natarajan Idol found its way to the National Gallery of Australia. Two of the stolen statues were consequently returned
and are now displayed in the Government Museum at Kumbakonam. It is located 32
Kms towards East from District headquarters Ariyalur, 6 Kms from T.Palur and
287 Kms from State capital Chennai.
