About this temple
Perur is a major Kongu-region Shiva shrine near the Noyyal, especially associated with Nataraja’s Kanaka Sabha and richly carved stone figures.
History
Karikala Chola is traditionally credited with the early shrine. Later Chola inscriptions and successive Hoysala, Vijayanagara and Nayak patronage concern the standing complex. The seventeenth-century Kanaka Sabha is a later architectural layer.
Legends & Religious Traditions
Kamadhenu worships a hidden linga with milk. Her calf Patti disturbs the mound and marks the linga, but Shiva blesses both instead of condemning the playful calf. Another tradition connects the site with Shiva’s Ananda Tandava. The deathless palm and birthless tamarind express liberation symbolism, not verified claims of botanical immortality.
Architecture / Physical Features
The sculpted halls include striking forms of Shiva and remarkable stone-chain work. The Nataraja setting accounts for the name Melai Chidambaram, Western Chidambaram.
Festivals and Religious Significance
Panguni Uthiram is recorded in the district calendar, generally March–April. Confirm the annual procession and service programme.
How to Reach
Perur lies west of central Coimbatore, about 9 km away in the national tourism account. Local road transport completes the journey.
Contradictory Accounts and Variations
The traditional Karikala attribution is not a precise date for every hall. Perur is also distinct from Patteswaram near Kumbakonam, despite similar deity names.