Country India Location Thiruvalangadu Poets Karaikkal Ammeiyar Architectural style Dravidian architecture Poet Karaikkal Ammaiyar | State Tamil Nadu Primary deity Sri Vadaranyeswarar District Tiruvallur district Important festival Maha Shivaratri | |
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Other names Sri Vadaranyeswarar Temple Address Thiruvalangadu, Tamil Nadu 609810 Similar Sri Veerarag Swamy D, Thiruthani Temple Parking, Sri Ramanujar Koil Sri A, Sri Angala Parames Amman T, Sri Ekambra Temple | ||
Sri Vadaranyeswarar Temple, built by the Cholas during the 12th century, (though inscriptions evidence the 5th century) is regarded as a sacred Shaivaite temple in that it is one of the 5 majestic cosmic dance halls (pancha sabhai) of Lord Shiva, known as "Ratna Sabai".
History
Two demons Sumba and Nisumba chose this banyan jungle for their stay and began harassing the Devas. They appealed to Mother Parvathi for protection. Mother Parvathi created a furious Kali and destroyed the demons. Kali consumed the blood of the demons and their army and grew more furious.
At the request of Sage Munjikesa Karkodaka, Lord Shiva reached the place. Kali challenged the Lord for a dance and said that she would give her right in the place to the Lord if He won. The dance began. Lord dropped His ear ring on the ground, picked it by the toe of His left leg and fixed it back on His ear in the dance. Kali accepted her defeat and said that she could not do such a marvelous dance. Lord Shiva said that He alone was equal to Her and said further that those coming to worship Him here, should worship Her first to reap the full benefit of the worship. Since then, Kali has Her own temple to grace the devotees.
It is in this temple that Lord addressed the Great Shiva devotee Karaikkal Ammeiyar as “Ammaye”. Ammeiyar enjoyed the dance performance of the Lord standing upside down. Ammeiyar reached this temple by head as she thought walking by feet to Lords shrine was a sin. She reached the state of bliss here.