Tiruvadanai

Thiruvadanai is one of the many temple towns in the state which is named after the grooves, clusters or forests dominated by a particular variety of a tree or shrub and the same variety of tree or shrub sheltering the presiding deity. The region is believed to have been covered with Vilva forest and hence called Vilvavanam. Legend has it that Vaaruni, the son of Varuna, the God of rain who was cursed by a Sage to have an elephant's body and a goat's head, regained his normal form after worshiping Shiva at this temple. The name of the town is believed to have been derived from this mythological incident(Thiru- sacred; Adu- goat; Aanai- elephant; Thiru Adanai- the sacred place, where the goat-headed-elephant regained his original form). The Sun God(Suriyan) is said to have worshiped a blue diamond image of Shiva here. Sage Brighu(Brighu Munivar) is also said to have worshiped the Lord here. Another popular belief is that during the exile of Pandavas, Arjuna got the pasupatha missile from Lord Shiva. He was asked by the Lord to come to Tiruvadanai to know how to use the weapon. As a mark of his devotion(Bhakti), Arjuna installed the shrine(Somaskanda) in the temple.