Sri Sapta Matrikas Sculptures Of The Saptarisheeswarar Temple At Lalkudi

Abstract

The name of the Siva temple here is Thiruthavathurai is old name. Now its present name of Lalgudi. In South India, a number of ancient shrines ove their own name to their location. Since the Siva temple was on the bank of Kavery river,  the term “turai” bathing ghat + where people usually get down to have a dip in a river got associated with the temple turai means the place of his grace or benevolence to his devotees. The puranic account mention that the recipient of the Lord’s grace was devi his consort, and the bestower  of divine grace was none other than the lord of the place that is how the temple came to be called “Thiruthavathurai”. Later Muslim invasion this temple gopura is red show an the Muslim invented Arabic language red gopura means Lalgudi.