Netroddharakaswami Temple (நேத்ரோதாரகாஸ்வாமி கோயில்) is a revered Hindu temple located in Panaiyapuram, Viluppuram district, Tamil Nadu. Dedicated to Lord Shiva, its central idol is a Shiva Linga, and it holds significant religious importance as one of the 275 Paadal Petra Sthalams. This temple attracts numerous devotees, each seeking blessings from Lord Shiva and admiring the temple's rich spiritual ambiance and its association with Tamil Nadu's deeply rooted Saiva tradition.
The temple's origins trace back to the Medieval Chola period, constructed by the king Rajendra Chola I in the early 11th century AD. This construction was a tribute to his assistant, Paravai, with the nearby village subsequently named Paravaipuram in her honor. Interestingly, historical records suggest an older temple once stood at the site, indicating the region’s enduring spiritual legacy and deep historical roots in Tamil religious culture.
Inscriptions by various Chola kings, including Rajendra Chola I, Rajendra Chola II, Adhirajendra Chola, and Kulothunga Chola I, adorn the temple complex, capturing the rich history and devotion of the period. These inscriptions serve as a testament to the temple’s significance, reflecting both the grandeur of the Chola dynasty and the devout spirit that influenced the construction and preservation of Saivite temples in Tamil Nadu.
The temple holds further religious significance, as the Saivite saint Sambandar is said to have sung praises of the temple. In recent times, when the expansion of the National Highway NH45 posed a potential threat to the temple, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) ultimately chose to protect the structure, preserving its religious and historical value for future generations.