The name ‘Lalgudy’ means the ‘Red Village.’ This is the name given by the Muslims on account of the red colour of the tower of the Siva temple. Its ancient name was ‘Tiruttavatturai’ – the holy place of penance. The seven rishis – Atri, Bhrugu, Pulastya, Vasistha, Gautama, Angirasa and Marichi who were cursed by Skanda got their salvation by doing penance here and by worshipping the Lord of the place. Hence the name of the deity is Saptarishisvara.
The Saptarisisvarar temple at Lalgudy has five re-engraved inscriptions, one of the fifth year of Pallava Nandivarma III (840 CE), another of his son Pallava Nrpatungavarma (857 CE), two from the Pandya king Varagunavarma II (867 CE and 875 CE) and lastly of Aditya I (885 CE). Only one inscription from 898 CE – twenty-seventh year of Aditya I is original so the temple must have been rebuilt in 898 CE.
References: M.W. Meister and M.A. Dhaky, 1963, p. 163, S.R. Balasubrahmanyam, 1976, pp. 97 - 99, D. Barrett, 1973, p. 53.
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