| Description:This
Shivastalam is located at a distance of 10 km south of Kadambattur on the Chennai
Arakkonam suburban railroad, at a distance of 2km south west of of Coovum or Tiruvirkolam. Coovum is located 72 km west of
Chennai. Elimiankottur is on the western bank of the Coovum lake. This
is the 13th of the 32 Tevara Stalams in the Tondai region of South
India. Shiva here is said to
have been worshipped by the celestial nymph Rambai and hence the name Arambayamkottur,
which over a period of time became Ilambayankottur. Legend also has it that Chandra
worshipped Shiva here.
Legend has it that Shiva appeared in the form of a child and then an old man and
pointed out the location of this shrine to Sambandar and his followers. Sambandar is said
to have headed here from Tiruvallam.
The sacred tank south of the temple is referred to as Chandra Theertham. Inscriptions
from the period of Rajadiraja II and the later Pandyan period, speaking of endowments made
to this temple, are seen here.
Dakshinamurthy is referred to as Yoga Dakshinamurthy here and
is portrayed with the 'chin mudra' positioned on his chest and is depicted with a
'Yoga Pattam'. Worshipping Dakshinamurthy here on full moon nights is considered to be
auspicious.
Mahasivaratri is celebrated here in the month of Maasi (Aquarius). |
