History of the place

A farmer couple used to take their food only after feeding a Shiva devotee. To test them, the Lord did not send any devotee nor the couple could find their workers. Finally an old man came to accept their offer with a condition as a wage for the work he would do to the couple. The farmer asked him to plough his land and the couple went to bring food for the old man. When they returned, they were surprised to see the crop had grown and was ready for harvest. After accepting the food by the couple near the Kondrai tree, the old man disappeared. Then the Lord appeared and revealed his identitiy. As per the farmer's, request, He stayed in the place as Swayambulinga.

Saints who worshiped

Sundarar. This temple is the 216th among the 274 devara sthalas.

Speciality of this temple

The Lord here is a Swayambumurthi. Sun's rays fall on the Lord on Panguni 20 and 21st. Lord Nataraja graces in His dancing posture to the tune of Lord Vishnu singing His conch and Lord Brahmma playing his Maththalam (dolak - a percussion instrument) Lord Shiva blesses the devotees sitting on a square peeta. The farm equipments used by the Lord to plough the lands are still in the temple. As Thinai (one kind of millets) was cultivated there, hence the name "Thiru Thinai". Lord Chandikeswara appears here with his consort who assists her in his work. A sage who was cursed as a Bear (Jaambu) bathed in the temple's spring, worshipped Lord Shiva and got the relief. Hence the tank is named after the Rishi.

Pariharam

People pray to Lord Nataraja to excel in the art of dancing. People pray Lord Dakshinamurthy for good farm yields.

Pariharam Procedure

Devotees perform abishekam to Lord and Mother and offer vastras.