the abode of Shiva. Pusalar is regarded as a historical figure. The Pallava king Kadavarkon from the Periya Puranam account is identified as King Rajasimha (also known as Narasimhavarman II), who reigned between 700 and 728 CE. The king's temple is identified as the Kailasanathar temple, which is regarded as Rajasimha's greatest temple and functioned as the personal shrine of the king. An inscription with 12 Sanskrit verses on the exterior walls of Kailasanathar temple aid the identification. The seventh verse talks about a "heavenly voice without body" that Rajasimha heard. This voice is associated with Shiva's voice in the Pusalar tale. Thus, Pusalar can be beginning to the beginning of the eighth century and a contemporary of Sundarar. The Periya Puranam depends on these inscriptions at Kailasanathar temple for telling the tale of Pusalar. The tale of Pusalar (called Pusala Nayanaru in the account) is also recalled in the 13th-century Telugu Basava Purana of Palkuriki Somanatha in brief and with some variation. The king is called Vikrama Choda (a Chola king who reigned between 1118–1135 CE), instead of the Pallava in the Tamil version. He created a grand temple of gold. Pusala Nayanaru created a similar temple in mind and gained the grace of Shiva. Remembrance Pusalar is depicted with a shaven head and with folded hands (see Anjali mudra). A holy day in his honour is observed on the twenty-eighth day of the Tamil month of Aippasi, generally coincides with 13 November. He receives collective worship as part of the 63 Nayanars. Their icons and brief accounts of his deeds are found in many Shiva temples in Tamil Nadu. Their images are taken out in procession in festivals. Hridayaleeswarar Temple, which dedicated to Shiva as Hrudayaleeswarar ("Lord in Devotees’ heart"), was built in Thiruninravur by the Pallavas in honour of Pusalar. Pusalar is worshipped with Shiva in the sanctum sanatorium of the temple. As per temple lore, this temple was created by the Pallava king from Pusalar's tale to fulfill Pusalar's wish to build a grand temple for Shiva. Since Pusalar originally built the temple in his heart, patients of heart diseases as well as cardiologists worship at this temple for cure of heart diseases. References Nayanars