The Koranganatha temple at Tiruchirapalli (Tamil Nadu) stands in a built-in pit and is of modest proportions. This temple has a re-engraved inscription from the time of early Chola ruler Aditya I (871 - 907 CE), and four inscriptions of Chola Parantaka's time (907 - 954 CE). The fabric of the temple is not of Aditya's time but rather of rebuilding during Parantaka I's time (927 CE). The entire composition displays a return to earlier Pallava simplicity and marks the transitional period between the Pallava and Chola - the base is of stone and the upper levels are in brick. The now empty sanctum sanctorum (garbhagriha) originally contained a lingam. The pilasters embedded in the wall are adorned with beautiful sculptures and the arches have delicately carved frieze work. The crowning dome or sikhara is four-cornered and curvilinear with the same four niches, topped by chaitya arches. The shrine was desecrated at some later date by a monkey as is evident from its present name of Koranganatha - Lord of the Monkeys. References: M. Boothalingam, 1971, p.16 & pp. 29-37, K. Deva, 1995, p.224 and M.W. Meister and M.A. Dhaky 1963, p.170, V. Dehejia, 1990, p.22.

The Kripapurisvarar temple may have been renovated during Uttama Chola's time (971-988 CE) and even after that. The place, Tiruvennainallur, gains its importance from the fact that it was the Lord of this place who intervened and stopped the wedding of the Tamil saint Sundaramurti Nayanar (ninth century) in order to win him over to His side and bestow His grace on him. There are two well-known temples at this place, one associated with the Tamil saint known as Arulturai Nayanar - Kripapurisvarar and the other associated with the Later Pallava chiefs of Sendamangalam, known as the Vaikuntha Perumal temple. The deity in the Tiruvennainallur temple is called Taduttatkonda nathar (the Lord who bestowed divine grace after placing obstacles in the way of the devotee). References: S.R. Balasubrahmanyam, 1975, pp. 31-32, S.R. Balasubrahmanyam, 1979, pp. 302-304.