The
pilgrim will be surprised to see Indra's white elephant, Airavatam, in front of Lord
Subrahmanya here instead of his vehicle peacock as found in other shrines of Subrahmanya.
It is said that, i token of his gratitude towards Subrahmanya who
saved him from the attack of the Asuras, Indra placed his elephant in front of
Subrahmanya’s shrine here, apparently at his disposal.
The temple of Swaminatha is a very ancient one and it is known to have existed even in the
second century B.C. It is, said that it was Parantaka Chola I who built the temple and
conducted many connected with the construction of the temple. The temple was damaged to a
great extent and the gopurams were demolished and razed to ground in the year 1740 when
the Anglo-French War was waged later when war broke out between Hyder Ali and the British. |
