Maha Kaleswarar Temple

According to legend, the saint Mahakala Rishi, during his pilgrimage, installed three lingams in different regions: one at Ujjain in North India (Vada Naadu), another at Ambar Makalam near Mayiladuthurai in the South (Then Naadu), and the third at this location (Nadu Naadu). Consequently, the deity here is known as Sri Mahakaleshwarar.

Another fascinating legend associated with this temple revolves around Sage Kaduveli Siddhar, known for his intense penance under a peepal tree. It is believed that the heat generated from his body during his penance became so extreme that it disrupted the natural balance, causing a drought and depriving the region of rainfall. This dire situation caught the attention of King Kulothungan, who ruled from Kottakkarai. The king, unable to disturb the Siddhar himself due to his chanting of Lord Shiva’s mantra, announced a reward for anyone who could break the sage’s penance.

A temple dancer named Valli, devoted to Lord Shiva, took up the challenge. Observing that the Siddhar occasionally consumed falling peepal leaves, she cleverly prepared fried papads with salt and placed them around him. Mistaking the papads for dried leaves, Siddhar consumed them. Over time, the salted papads disrupted his penance, and when he regained awareness, he saw Valli nearby and asked her what had transpired. She explained the suffering caused by the drought and how his intense penance was the cause.

Once the penance was broken, the heat subsided, and the rain gods were appeased, bringing much-needed showers to the region. To celebrate this event, the king organized a grand pooja at the temple, where Valli was to perform Lord Shiva’s cosmic dance, Anantha Thandavam. She invited Siddhar to attend, and he agreed.

During her performance, one of Valli’s anklets fell off, causing her to lose rhythm. The Siddhar, seeing Lord Shiva’s divine presence in her, picked up the anklet and placed it back on her feet. This act, however, drew ridicule from the crowd and the king, who mocked him for touching the feet of a dancer. Enraged by their scorn, the Siddhar prayed to Lord Shiva, invoking his wrath in a song:

"வெல்லும் பொழுது விடுவேன் வெகுளியை

செல்லும் பொழுது செலுத்தினேன் சிந்தையை

அல்லும் பகலும் உன்னையே தொழுதேன்

கல்லும் பிளந்து கடுவெளியாமே"

In response, the Shiva Lingam in the temple split into three fragments, and wherever these fragments landed, the area became barren. This desolate region, about three kilometers from the temple, is still known as Kaduveli.

Realizing the Siddhar’s power, the king begged for forgiveness. While the Siddhar stated that he could not reverse the curse, he prophesied that people from distant lands would one day come to make the barren land fertile again.

The king also requested Siddhar to restore the broken Shivalingam. The Siddhar sang another song to mend the fragments:

"எட்டும் அறிந்த உந்தனுக்கு

எட்டும் அறியாத எந்தனுக்கு

எட்டு அறிந்தும் ஒன்று சேருமே"

As he completed the song, the Shivalingam rejoined.

To this day, some villagers believe that the arrival of the Aurovilians, who transformed the barren land into fertile greenery, fulfills the Siddhar’s prophecy and signifies the gradual lifting of the curse.