Sri Deivanayaka Easwarar temple

The Sri Deivanayaka Easwarar Temple is located in Tiru Ilambayankattoor and is dedicated to God Deivanayaka Easwarar. When God Shiva was passing through this region to wage a war against the demons, He passed without worshipping God Vinayaka. God Vinayaka broke the axis of the God's chariot. God Vishnu prevented the chariot from falling down. The garland worn by God Shiva then fell down and became a Swayambulinga. Saint Tirugnanasambandar visited Shiva temples and was on his way back. God Shiva, disguised as an old man, asked him to sing praises of the God who was supposedly in that place. The saint, however couldn't see and returned. The God appeared before the saint in the form of a cow, showed him the place and reiterated his demand. The saint did so with great pleasure. The virgins of the celestial world (called Arambas) requested the God to help them retain their beauty perennially. The God granted their boon in the form of Yoga Dakshinamurthy. Praying to God Yoga Dakshinamurthy ensures that the devotee is blessed with an enticing personality. Therefore, one can see a representation of God Shiva being worshipped by the virgins near the entrance of the temple. The temple is known for three major attributes - Murthy (glory of the God), Sthala (sacredness of the land) and Theertha (sacredness of the spring). Mother Ambica has a separate shrine. The Nivedhana offered here is rice.