Tirumanancheri

According to temple legend, Goddess Parvati once requested Shiva to marry her again according to earthly customs. Shiva agreed to marry her in a future Brahma kalpa. Distressed by the delay, Parvati began to act indifferently towards him, and Shiva cursed her to be born as a cow on Earth. After seeking relief from the curse, Parvati assumed the form of a cow, accompanied by Lakshmi, Saraswati and Indrani, who also took the same form. They wandered through places including Asikkadu and Arasankadu. Vishnu assumed the form of a cowherd and tended the cows. Pleased by the milk poured over his body and the marks left by the cow's hooves, Shiva decided to marry Parvati as she had wished. Parvati subsequently appeared in the sacrificial fire of a yajna performed by the sage Bharata and married Shiva at Thirumanancheri. The tradition associates different stages of the legend with several temples in the region. Parvati was cursed at Therazhundur, assumed the form of a cow at Asikkadu, and was tended by Vishnu in the form of a cowherd at Komal. Shiva received the marks of the cow's hooves at Thirukkolambam, and the cow attained liberation at Thiruvavaduthurai. Parvati emerged from Bharata's sacrificial fire at Thiruthuruthi (Kuthalam). Wedding-related rituals were performed at Thiruvelvikudi and Kurumulaipalayam, while Shiva was ceremonially welcomed at Ethirkolpadi before marrying Parvati at Thirumanancheri.