The Airavatesvara temple is on the southern bank of the Kaveri. Nemam was so called because it was considered a place most suitable for man’s conquest of his senses. It was a place where a thousand lingas placed round a big central linga had been installed. Hence it was called Niyamam Ayirattali (thousand shrines). The vestiges of this temple could be seen southwest of the Airavatesvara temple. One of the inscriptions on this temple relates to the twenty-fourth regnal year of Aditya I. The temple is built entirely of stone and the original shrine consisted of the sanctum sanctorum (garbagriha), the half-hall (ardhmandapa), and the sub shrines, enclosed by a compound wall with a gateway in the east. The crowning cupola (sikhara) has been fully renovated. Reference: S.R. Balasubrahmanyam, 1966, pp.143-144.