Mayuranathaswamy Temple, Mayiladuthurai

The Mayuranathaswamy Temple is the principal temple of Mayiladuthurai, giving the town its name. According to legend, the goddess Parvati once worshipped Lord Shiva here in the form of a peacock (mayura), hence the name Mayiladuthurai (city of the peacock).

The temple was built primarily during the Chola period and later expanded by Vijayanagara rulers. Mayiladuthurai served as an important Chola administrative center, and the district contains dozens of impressive Chola-era temples.