Thiruvetkalam Pasupatheswarar Temple:
It is believed that this temple is more than 2000 years old and it was built by Pallava kings. At a later date, it was renovated by the Nattukkottai Chettiars.
| Moolavar | Sri Paasupatheswarar |
| Ambal | Sri Nalla Nayaki, Sri Sargunambal |
This temple is situated in Annamalainagar within the University complex in Chidambaram.
The sthala vruksham is bamboo.
The theertham is Krupa Kadaksha Theertham.
In the Thevarams, the first temple to be mentioned is the Thillai Natarajar temple which is followed by this temple. According to the experts, this is one of the few temples which was constructed strictly in accordance with Temple architecture manuals.
The sthala puranam is related to Mahabharata.
Before the Kurukshetra war, Arjuna got most of the divine arrows/mantras from his father, Indra. However, one of the most potent weapons, Pashupatastra, could be given only by Lord Shiva.
Hence Lord Krishna advised Arjuna to do penance at this bamboo forest to Shiva, after getting permission from his father. Indra blessed his son and also visited this temple. ( A sculpture of Indra on Iravatham is seen on the walls of this temple).
Arjuna did intense Tapas.
Since the aim of Duryodhana was to stop all the efforts of Pandavas, he sent the demon Mookasuran to disturb Arjuna’s penance.
Shiva decided to test Arjuna,
He took the form of a hunter, with Mother Parvathi accompanying Him as the hunter’s wife. and the four Vedas following them as hounds.
Mookasura took the form of pig and charged towards Arjuna.
Hearing the grunts of the pig, Arjuna shot an arrow at it and simultaneously, another arrow from the hunter also hit the pig, which fell down.
A dispute arose as to who killed the pig. The argument became a fight in which they shot arrows at each other. One of Shiva’s arrows broke Arjuna’s bow and in anger, Arjuna hit the Lord with his broken bow.
Due to this, there is a scar on top of the Lingam in this temple.
When Shiva was hit, Parvathi became agitated and She was about to curse Arjuna. Shiva pacified Her saying that a Mother cannot curse Her child and asked Her to remain calm with Her Satgunas (good qualities). This has given rise to the name of the Ambal in this temple.
Shiva used His toes and tossed Arjuna into the Krupa Kataksha theertham. Arjuna then realised that the hunter was none other than the Lord Shiva.
He prostrated before the Lord and apologised for his immature action. The Lord appeared along with the Mother in the real form, blessed him and gave him the Pashupatastra.
The place where the fight took place is now called Eesan Porveli.
The place where Arjuna’s bow was broken is called Villaruttan Kuttai (vil= bow, aruttal=cutting).