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 Description:
This Shivastalam is located in the vicinity of Aachaalpuram,
near Kollidam on the railroad between Chidambaram
and Mayiladuturai. A mile east of this shrine is
the seashore, and a mile north is the Kollidam river. Mahendrapalli
is the 6th in the series of Tevara Stalangal on the northern banks of
the river Kaveri in the Chola region of Tamilnadu.
Legends: Shiva is
said to have revealed a vision of his Cosmic Dance to the sages here, at this shrine
worshipped by  Surya, Chandra, Indra and Bhrama. Sundarar has referred to this shrine in
his Patikam dedicated to Tiruppunkur.
The Temple: This east facing temple has an entrance crowned with a
three tiered Raaja Gopuram. The inntermost prakarm enshrines
Shiva, Ambal and Nataraja. The outer prakaram has shrines dedicated to
Ganesha, Vishnu, Bhairava, Surya and Chandra.
 Near this temple is an ancient settlement by the name
Teevukkottai;
the Nataraja image enshrined at Mahendrapalli was apparently unearthed
here.
The sun's rays fall on the sanctum for a week in the tamil month of
Pankuni. The tamil hymn of Tirugnanasambandar refers to the
worship of this shrine by Indra.
Festivals: Four worship services are offered each day, and Arudra
Darisanam is celebrated  in the month of Markazhi. |
