Airavata,
the white elephant of Indra, as a result of a quarrel picked up with Nandi, the chief
attendant of Lord Siva, was
cursed the latter to turn into a wild elephant roaming in the forests. To rid of the sin,
Airavata came to this place, dug out a tank
with its tusks and took daily purificatory bath in the Teertham and worshipped the Lord.
The tank is now known as Aanai Madu (Aanai means elephant and Madu means tank).
Devendra who was cursed by Lord Siva at Kailas in some connection came to this place and
conducted many festivals and religious rites and at last got many boons and salvation.
Even today the festival of in
worshipping at this place is conducted every year in the Tamil month Vaikasi (May-June). |
