The sacred precincts of Tirumiyachchur contain two stone temples, one main shrine and other adjoining smaller temple or b?l?laya; both replace earlier structures. The main shrine is called Mayarcindesvara and the adjoining b?l?laya shrine is called Sakalabhuvanesvara. No inscriptions have so far been published. The date of the temple must therefore be determined on the basis of style. The main temple was probably erected in the last quarter of the tenth century during Sembiyan Mahadevi’s time. This suggestion is based on the general style of sculptures and the iconographic scheme. Reference: M.W. Meister and M.A. Dhaky, 1963, p. 192.

The fabric of the Saksisvara temple at Tiruppurambiyam and the style of the sculptures suggest a date in Uttama Chola's (971 – 988 CE) reign or at least during the life of Sembiyan Mahadevi. The temple was probably rebuilt in stone before 995 CE. The superstructure (vimana) of this temple is more ornate than other temples at this time and the pillars in the half-hall (ardhamandapa) have a rather unusual composite structure – they are square at the base, octagonal and then 16-sided at the top. Reference: M.W. Meister and M.A. Dhaky, 1963, pp. 187-188.

The Vijayalaya Cholisvara at Narttamalai is of the earliest and grandest of the structural stone temples built during the time of Vijayalaya. On the hillock of Melamalai at Narttamalai, there are two rock-cut cave temples and group of structural stone shrines opposite to them. Cave Temple 1 is a rock-cut cave popularly known as ‘Samana Kudagu’ (Cave of the Jains). It was probably a Jaina cave of about the seventh century CE. Now it has features of a Vaishnavite shrine with a cella and a hall (mandapa), both scooped out of rock. There are twelve images of Vishnu – two on the sides and five each on the two sides of the doorway leading to the sanctum. The twelve figures perhaps represent those of the twelve names of Vishnu. A stone entrance hall (mukhmandapa) was also built about the same time and a later inscription dating to the Kulottunga I (1115 CE) has been traced which states that the name of the Vaishnavite deity was “Tirumer-Koyil Karumanikka Devar” at “Telunga Kula-Kala Nagaram” as Narttamali was called in that period. References: S.R. Balasubrahmanyam, 1966, p.47.

The Samavedisvara temple is dedicated to Parsuram who according to local tradition worshipped the lord of Tirumnagalam and obtained his axe (parasu). One of the sixty-three saints, Aanaaya Nayanar of the Aayar kulam lived here and he was a great devotee of the Lord of this place. This temple is in a good state of preservation with the inscriptions and sculptures intact. In the rear or the west facing divinity niche (devakoshta) there is an image of Hariharar (Sankaranarayanar) that was unusual for Chola temples of this period. Even in the niches of the half hall (ardhamandapa), there is a Bhikshatanar figure in the south niche where usually the image of Ganpati is found. These features were peculiar to the temples of Aditya I. So perhaps this temple was built in the days of Aditya I though epigraphs are found from the fifth regnal year of Rajaraja I (990 CE) onwards. Another interesting feature of this temple is the presence of a series of three groups of sculpture panels in miniature corresponding to each pilaster - one series is below the basement (adhistanam) and the second series is found between the varimanam and the vari and third is over the vari (parts of the pillar). References: S.R. Balasubrahmanyam, 1975, pp. 128-132 and M.W. Meister and M.A. Dhaky, 1963, pp. 189-190.

The name ‘Lalgudy’ means the ‘Red Village.’ This is the name given by the Muslims on account of the red colour of the tower of the Siva temple. Its ancient name was ‘Tiruttavatturai’ – the holy place of penance. The seven rishis – Atri, Bhrugu, Pulastya, Vasistha, Gautama, Angirasa and Marichi who were cursed by Skanda got their salvation by doing penance here and by worshipping the Lord of the place. Hence the name of the deity is Saptarishisvara. The Saptarisisvarar temple at Lalgudy has five re-engraved inscriptions, one of the fifth year of Pallava Nandivarma III (840 CE), another of his son Pallava Nrpatungavarma (857 CE), two from the Pandya king Varagunavarma II (867 CE and 875 CE) and lastly of Aditya I (885 CE). Only one inscription from 898 CE – twenty-seventh year of Aditya I is original so the temple must have been rebuilt in 898 CE. References: M.W. Meister and M.A. Dhaky, 1963, p. 163, S.R. Balasubrahmanyam, 1976, pp. 97 - 99, D. Barrett, 1973, p. 53.

Tirunaraiyur is called so because of the sweet fragrance of flowers growing here in abundance (narai = sweet smell). The Siva temple here is called the Siddhanathasvami temple. The Tamil saint, Sambandar (7th century) devoted a decad to the Lord of Siddhisvaram. The earliest inscription in this temple is an incomplete one but from the contents it can be assigned to Uttama Chola (971 - 988 CE). The temple is an early Chola temple, reconstructed in the days of Uttama Chola. The original temple consisted of a sanctum sanctorum (garbhagriha), the foyer (antarala) and a half-hall (ardhamandapa). Further up, there is a front hall (mukhmandapa). This temple has a Natraja bronze of the Sembiyan age. Reference: S.R. Balasubrahmanyam, 1971, pp. 178-79.