manuscript. It had the verse of Sambandar, one of the major Saivite saints Nayanars. Chieftain was advised to pray at Venkadu to be blessed with a progeny. He prayed at the place along with his wife and was blessed with a boy. The boy, Meykandadevar, later went on to write Sivagnana Bodham. As per some hindu legend, Budha, was the child of Chandra and Tara. Tara was originally the wife of Brihaspati, but had an illicit relationship with Chandra. Tara was directed by Shiva and Brahma to go back to her husband Guru and she entrusted the child to Chandra. Budha grew up to learn his background and started hating his parents. He did severe penance praying Shiva. Pleased by his devotion, Shiva blessed him to be a Navagraha. Brahma was blessed with divine power of learning (Vidya) by goddess Parvathi in the temple. Pillai Idikki Amman, an idol depicted hold a child on her hip is believed to be the depiction of Parvathi holding the child Sambandar when the latter called her Amma. History From the stone inscriptions found inside this temple, it can be seen that the earlier Chola kings Aditya Chola and Rajaraja Chola made a lot of contributions to this temple. There are several shrines of significance in this well visited temple, including those to Durga and Kali. The image of Natarajar here is of great beauty. Worship to Aghoramurthy (Veerabhadrar) is said to be of significance on Sunday nights in this temple. As found in Chidambaram, there is also a shrine for Lord Vishnu near the shrine for Natarajar. This temple is known as Adi Chidambaram because before Shiva first danced here before dancing in Chidambaram. The temple has around hundred stone inscriptions from various dynasties from Cholas, Pandyas and Vijayanagara Empire king Krishnadevaraya. The major kings who are believed to have bestowed endowments in the temple are that of Raja Raja Chola I (985 - 1014), Rajendra I (1012–1044), Virarajendra (1063–1070), Kulothunga I (1070-1120), Kulesekara Pandya and Vikrama Pandya. Architecture Swetharanyeswarar temple is located in Thiruvenkadu, a village in the Sirkazhi - Poompuhar road, located from Thanjavur. The temple occupies an area of with all its shrines and water bodies housed inside granite walls. The temple has two entrances on eastern and western directions and are adorned by seven-tiered gopurams. There are many shrines inside the temple. The temple has three presiding deities namely