23 of 1908 on the inner Gopura of the temple, right of entrance. On the temple walls these inscriptions are given, from which it is seen that the temple was known in those days as Raja Rajeswararen and Raja Rajapuram. Volume II of the South Indian Temple Inscriptions deals with a number of endowments of the Pandya Kings also (see pages 556 to 562). In the recent past Raja Raja Chola worshipped the Siva Lingam in this temple. Pilgrims make a point to bathe in the tank. It gets its supply of fresh water from the river Kaveri and is 228 feet in width. Since then the tank is known as Yamateertham. Yama took a bath in the sacred tank and was rid of the burning sensation. Tradition has it that the presiding deity Airavateswarar cured Yama himself (the God of Death) who was suffering under a Rishi's curse from a burning sensation all over the body. The legend is that Airavata, the white elephant of Indra (Mallas now Pallavas), worshipped Lord Siva in this temple so did also the King of Death, Yama. (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) at Thanjavur, Gangaikonda Cholapuram and Kumbakonam were built by the Cholas between the 10th and 12th centuries CE and have a lot of similarities.
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