Tirumanimada Kovil

It is said that this Lord was the first among the Tirunangur deities to appear to help Lord Shiva get relief from Brahmahatyadosham. The Lord is said to have given Tirukkoshtiyur Nambigal ( Guru of Shrīmad Rāmānujāchārya) the ashta-akshara mantram. Thus, one can find an idol of Tirukkoshtiyur Nambigal here at this kshethram. Another story recounts how Indra was cursed by Durvāsa, a maharishi, which led to the Samudra Manthanam. Once there was a dancer who wanted to impress the goddess, Maha Lakshmī.

The dancer performed a very intricate set of dances, and soon the goddess appeared before her, presenting the dancer with a garland. Soon after this, it is said that Sage Durvāsa was passing by and saw the lovely garland on the neck of the dancer. The dancer offered the sage the garland and left the scene. It is said that the garland possessed a very fragrant smell that attracted bees. Soon, the sage started to get irritated by the buzzing of the bees and was looking to dispose of the garland when Indra arrived atop his mount, Airāvata.

Durvāsa presented the garland to Indra. Airāvata took the garland, but instead of throwing it on Indra, it crushed it beneath its legs. Durvāsa was immensely angered by this insult and cursed Indra, saying he and the world would lose all their wealth. As the phrasing of the curse was vague, all wealth-bearing substances and creatures, such as the Kalpa Vriksha, Kamadhenu, and even the Goddess Lakshmī, disappeared. Indra never knew a world without getting whatever he desired.

Thus, to regain his lost wealth, Indra is said to have performed tapas here. The Lord is said to have appeared here and given him the idea to perform Samudra Mathanam.