Valeeswarar Temple

The Valeeswarar Temple is located in Mamandur and is dedicated to God Valeeswarar. As the mother of Sage Markandeya had wished for a son who would be learned but would have a short life span, the sage was destined to die at the age of sixteen. He went on pilgrimage to all the Shiva temples. When he attained the age of sixteen, Yama the God of Death approached him and cast the rope around his neck. But since the sage was at the feet of God Shiva, the rope wrongly fell on God Shiva who not only cursed Yama but also dismissed him from the post for not doing his work right. Markandeya was saved. When God Yama begged the pardon of the God, the God said that he would have his darshan on Earth at an appropriate time. And at such time he would be restored to his post. Yama came to earth in the form a crow and worshipped Shiva in all temples Indra, the king of the Devas once wrongly cast his eyes on the wife of Sage Gautama. As he cast his eyes wrongly on a married woman, the Rishi curse him to have eyes on all parts of his body. Indra came to God Shiva for relief from the sin committed by him. The God advised Indra to undertake pilgrimage on Earth and that He would grace him at an appropriate time. Indira came to earth in the form of an anil ("squirrel"). Both Yama and Indira are said to have come to this place simultaneously. And coincidentally, Vali, the king of monkeys, also came here to worship God Shiva. Vali was a great Shiva bhakth. Yama and Indira worshipped Shiva along with Vali. God Shiva gave his Darshan to the three together and relieved Yama and Indra from the sins. As prayed by them, he stayed in this place as a Swayambumurthy. The place came to be known as Kurangu Anil Muttam (Kurangu "Monkey", Anil "Squirrel", Muttam "Crow"). There are sculptures of the three on the pillars of the temple. The rays of the sun fall on the God on certain days in the month of Chithirai. Shrines of Kasi Viswanathar, Bhairavar, Navagrahas, Sapthamadhas, Nagadevadha are in the corridor (prakara). God Mahavishnu is behind the sanctum sanctorum with His discus.