KUDIMIYAMALAI - KUDUMINATHAN TEMPLE

Here is an ancient temple with an exciting sthalapurana imbued with mystery of rare kind. The presiding deity demonstrates his sports in a spectacular way and comes to the rescue of the devotees, if they wash away their sins and commissions by tears of regrets with the promise of treading righteous path. This is a hill temple lying in the heart of the town, provided with stairs. This kshetra has two sannidhis - one atop the hill for Subrahmanya and the other at the foot of the hill dedicated to Sikhanathar.

Its bizarre legend begins with the announcement of King Sundara Pandyan's visit to this temple on a certain day on his pilgrimage. Elaborate arrangements were made for his reception along with colourful' decoration of the Moolavars of both the shrines. But the king did not visit at the appointed hour. The priest became restless at the inordinate delay. Unable to prolong the ordeal of waiting, he closed the doors of the main temple and went down to Sikhanathar temple. Before closing the doors here, he removed the colourful grand garlands and took them to decorate his paramour called Rudra Kannika. Just at the moment, the news of King's arrival reached his ears. In a hurry he seized the garlands from his lady love's person and redecorated the Moolavar with them. After due prayer services, he slipped one garland over the neck of the king taking it from the Moolavar. The king noticed a hair sticking on to it and demanded explanation. The priest cleverly managed the situation saying that the Lord's icon is having plait. The king did not believe it, so he said before Ieaving that he would visit the next day to examine it. Sooner than the King's exit, the priest fell at the feet of the lord and bathed them with a stream of regretful tears and prayed to save him from perdition. He vowed wailing that he would turn a new leaf thence forward.

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