A Vaippu Sthalam,^[1] also called a Tevara Vaippu Sthalam, is one of the Hindu temples in South India that is referenced in the songs in the Tevaram, hymns composed in praise of Shiva during the 7th-8th century.^[2]

The Paadal Petra Sthalam by comparison are 275^[3] temples that are revered in the verses of Shaiva Nayanars in the 6th-9th century CE.

The Tevaram is the collection of verses sung in praise of Shiva by the sixty-three Nayanars, most prominent among whom were three Tamil poet-saints named Appar, Sambandar, and Sundarar. The former two lived in the 7th century CE while the latter around 8th century CE. All songs of the Tevaram are believed to be in sets of 10 songs (called patikam in Tamil).

The list of the Vaippu Sthalams is found in each verse of Tevaram that may be part of verses glorifying other temples (Paadal Petra Sthalam).^{[4][5][6][7] [8][9] [10] [11][12][13]}