The
legend goes to show that Airavata, the white elephant of Indra, worshipped Lord Siva in
this temple; so did also the King of
Death, Yama. Tradition has it that the presiding deity Airavateswarar cured Yama himself
(the God of Death) who was suffering under a Rishi's, curse from a burning sensation all
over the body. Yama took bath in the sacred tank and got rid of the burning sensation.
Since then the tank is known as Yamateertham.
It gets its supply of fresh water from the river
Kaveri and is 228 feet in width. The pilgrims always make a point to have a bath in the
tank. In the recent past Raja Raja Chola and Karikala Chola worshipped the Siva Lingam in
this temple. |
