Moolavar: Sri Manikandeswarar
Amman: Sri Anjanakshi Ambal
A Padal Petra Sthalam, one of the 276 revered Shiva temples in Tamil Nadu and the temple is mentioned in the 7th-century Tamil Saiva canonical work, Tevaram, written by Tamil saint poets known as the Nayanmars. This is the 11th Shiva temple in Thondaimandalam region praised in the hymns of Gnanasambandar and Tirunavukkarasar.
This ancient temple is approximately 1500 years old and is believed to have been built by Parantaka Chola during the 5th century.
The temple is associated with several legends, including the story of Lord Mahavishnu worshipping Lord Shiva to regain his Sudarshan Chakra, which had lost its sharpness. Impressed by Mahavishnu's devotion, Lord Shiva restored the chakra and blessed him.
Another legend tells the story of Goddess Parvathi creating a Shiva Linga with sand to repent for covering Lord Shiva's eyes, causing the universe to come to a standstill. The linga is protected by a copper plate and is considered self-manifested or Swayambhu.
it's believed that a Naga Kanni worshipped Lord Shiva here, and the temple is known for its relief from Naga Doshas.
The temple features a 5-tiered gopuram, with a vast area of 1.2 acres, and is surrounded by robust walls with two concentric prakarams. In the inner prakaram sannadhi for Suryan, Naalvar, Soleeswarar (Shiva Linga was installed in memory of Parantaka Chozha), Pancha matrikas, Balaganapathy, Uchishta Ganapathy, Chidambareswarar, Gajalakshmi, Valli Devasena Subramaniar, Veerabhadra, Bhairavar and Chandran.
In the saba mandapam, Natarajar with Ambal and Manickavasagar. Pancha murtis stucco images are on the top of the entrance. In the mandapam bas-reliefs of Dakshinamurthy, Suryan, Mahavishnu, Balasubramaniar, Appar, Sundarar, Thirugnanasambandar, Vinayagar, Murugan, Brahma/Nanmugan (all the four faces are visible), Ambal worshiping Lord Shiva, Kalinga Narthanar, Kamadhenu, Bhairavar, Veerabhadra doing dhabas standing on one leg. Lord Vishnu as Senthamarai Kanna Perumal is near Lord Shiva in a worshipping form.
Mahavishnu is in standing form before Lord in praying pose.Though a Shiva temple, Lord Vishnu is worshipped here, Garuda Seva is celebrated during the Brahmmotsavam festival.
The moolavar is called here with many names like, Sri Manikandeswarar, Sri Dhayanatheeswarar, Sri Pravaleswarar, Sri Saatharupar, Sri Pavalamalaiyar, Sri Vaattamthavirthar, and Sri Malvanankesar.
Ambal is in a separate sannadhi facing south immediately after the Rajagopuram. Ambal Anjanakshi is also, known as Karunai Nayagi
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