Sri Uthamar Kovil/Sri Pichandar Kovil

The Uthamar Temple is located in Manachanallur and is dedicated to God Uthamar. According to legend, Brahma once had five heads as Shiva did. Mother Parvathi once mistook Brahma to be Shiva. Furious, Shiva plucked one head off Brahma to avoid further confusion. Through this act, Shiva incurred the Brahmahathi Dosha. The severed skull of Brahma stuck to Shiva's hand and couldn't be separated. The food offered to Shiva was consumed by the skull which was never satiated. Shiva then came to earth as a Bikshadana holding the skull bowl. When Shiva reached this place, Vishnu asked Mahalakshmi to offer food in the skull bowl. On doing so, the bowl started to overflow and thus the hunger of Shiva was also quenched. Mahalakshmi was called Poornavalli - the one who fulfills requirements of those in need. This place is also called Pichandarkovil since Shiva was rid of his Dosha here. It is also called Kadhambanur - Karambanur because Vishnu stood here as a Kadhamba tree. The holy trinity of Shiva-Vishnu-Brahma are present in this temple with their respective consorts. Tirumangai Azhwar extolled the temple in his Mangalasasanam.