Sivalokanathar Temple, Tirupunkur

Sivalokanathar Temple (சிவலோகநாதர் கோயில்)^[1] is a Hindu temple in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is dedicated to the god Shiva. The temple is situated in the village of Tirupunkur or Thirupunkur which lies about 3 miles west of Vaitheeswaran Koil.^[2] The temple is associated with the legend of the Saivite saint Nandanar who was one of the 63 Nayanmars. While being a Dalit, Nandanar was not allowed inside the temple, the idol of Nandi within the temple precincts moved a few inches at the command of Shiva so as not to obstruct Nandanar's view from the gate of the shrine. As Shiva has pre-Vedic roots , and the figure of Shiva evolved as an amalgamation of various older non-Vedic deities , Shiva has pre-Vedic Tribal roots , having "his origins in primitive tribes, signs and symbols." The figure of Shiva as he is known today is an amalgamation of various older deities into a single figure, due to the process of Indo European language Sanskritization and the emergence of the Hindu synthesis in post-Vedic times.

Tirunavukkarasar describes the feature of the deity of Tirupunkur and Thiruneedur as:^[3]

• Tourist Guide to Tamil Nadu. Sura Books. 2010. p. 64. ISBN 978-81-7478-177-2.

• Main entrance
• Nandhi(front view)
• Nandhi (rear view)
• From inside the temple(Nandhanar shrine next to Rajagopuram)
• Vimana of Nandhanar shrine near Rajagopuram
• Nandhanar shrine outside the temple (Front view)
• Nandhanar shrine outside the temple (Rear view)