Tirunavalur holds an honoured place in Saivite hagiology, as it is the birthplace of Tamil saint Sundaramurti Nyanar. There were once three Siva temples and a Vishnu temple here. One of the Siva temples was an old Pallava temple called Kalinarisvaram. The principal deities of the other two Siva temples were Rajaditta Isvarrattu Mahadevar and Tiru Agastyesvarattu Mahadevar however the Agastyesvaram temple cannot be traced now. The Rajaditta Isvaram temple that is commonly known as Bhaktajanesvaram or Tiruttondisvaram is extant. There are twenty-nine inscriptions relating to Parantaka I (907-954 CE). These are inscriptions mention donation of gifts to the temple and also reflect the political anarchy that prevailed in the region consequent on the Rashtrakuta invasion by Krishna III (953 – 954 CE). The temple received the devoted homage and munificence of kings and nobles throughout the period of Chola rule. This temple houses bronzes of Natraja and Bhikshatanar and metals of Sundaramurti and his two consorts and of his patron Munaiyadaraiyan. References: S.R. Balasubrahmanyam, 1971, pp. 64-67.