Temple Overview & Shrine Details
| Mulavar (Presiding Deity) | Vidaaranyeeswarar, Devarsingaperuman, Aalankatteesar, Nataraja Oordhvatandavamoorthy |
|---|---|
| Ambal (Consort) | Bramharaalakambal, Vandaarkuzhali |
| Theertham | Mukthi Theertham |
| Sthala Vruksham | Aala Maram (Banyan Tree) |
| Paadiyavar | Gyanasambandar, Appar, Sundarar |
| Travel Base | Tiruvallur |
| Nearest Railway Station | Thiruvalangadu |
| Continent / Region | Thondai |
| Circle / Taluk | Thiruvalangadu |
| District | Tiruvallur |
| State | Tamil Nadu |
Location & Accessibility
It is 15 kms from Tiruvallur on Tiruvallur Arakkonam Route and 2 kms from Thiruvalangadu Railway Station. It is located within a two-hour drive from Chennai, and within an hour's drive from Kanchipuram.
Architecture
This is a vast and beautiful temple heralded as Ratnasabhai - one of the five Pancha Sabhais special to Nataraja, featuring a sprawling well-maintained temple complex with beautiful mandapams and gopurams. The five dance halls are Chidambaram, Madurai, Tiruvalankadu, Tirunelveli and Kutralam. This is the 15th of the 32 Tevara Stalams in the Tondai region of South India.
There are inscriptions here which speak of grants given by Rajendra Cholan for the upkeep of the temple, dating back to the 5th century. The towering Rajagopuram is visible for miles around, and the surrounding walls date back to the 12th and 13th centuries. Stucco images depicting the five dance halls of Shiva crown the entrance to the inner prakaram. Karaikkaal Ammaiyaar was very closely associated with this shrine.
History & Sacred Legend
Shiva is said to have defeated Kali in a fierce dance duel by lifting his foot in the Oordhvatandavam posture. Kali is depicted in a dance posture as well here. Karaikkal Ammayar walked on her head to this shrine and her image is seen in the shrine of Oordhvatandavamurthy.
Legend has it that upon being requested by Naradar to save earthly beings from Kali's rage following the vanquishing of demons Sumban and Nisumban, Shiva agreed to a dance duel. He defeated Kali by raising his left foot to adorn his ear with an earring that slipped away—a gesture Kali failed to imitate, admitting defeat.