Thanthondreeswarar Temple, Indhalur,
Pallavarayanpettai, Nagapattinam
Thanthondreeswarar Temple is a Hindu Temple dedicated to
Lord Shiva located at Indhalur Village in Pallavarayanpettai near Mayiladuthurai
in Nagapattinam District of Tamilnadu. Presiding Deity is called as Thanthondreeswarar
/ Thanthondri Appar. The Temple is one of the 70 Maada Kovils built by 2nd
century Chola king, Kochengata
Chola.
Legends
Kochengat Chola was a Chola king and one
of the 63 Nayanmars (Saivite saints) of Saivism. He is
believed to have attained spiritual rebirth of a spider that fought with an
elephant in its previous birth over the worship of the Hindu god Shiva. He
had red eyes during birth as he remained in his mother’s womb a little longer.
His mother, looking into the babies red eyes said Kochengkannano (in Tamil Ko=king,
Cheng=red, Kan=eyes), which literally means king with red eyes and hence he was
named Kochengat Cholan. After becoming a king, he followed Saivism and
built 70 Maadakovils, temples with elevated structure where elephants
cannot reach the sanctum, in the Chola empire. It is believed that this is one
of the temple built by him.
Connectivity
The Temple is located at about 100 meters from Pallavarayan
Pettai Bus Stop, 1.5 Kms from Parimala Ranganathar Temple Divyadesam, 1.5 Kms
from Needur Railway Station, 2.5 Kms from Mayiladuthurai, 4 Kms from Mayiladuthurai
Railway Junction, 122 Kms from Trichy and Trichy Airport. Nearest Railway
Station is located at Needur and Mayiladuthurai. Nearest Airport is located at
Trichy.
Location