Saptha Kailaya Kshetram

Legend

In Kailaya, Uma Devi playfully closed the eyes of Lord Shiva , which happened to be the Sun and the Moon and the whole world turned dark. Shiva got angry and cursed  Devi to go to Bhooloka; when Devi tearfully asked for Vimochana, the Lord said she should do penance at the Pancha Bhootha kshetras : Chidambaram Kalahasti, Thiruvanaikaval, Kanchipuram and then come to Tiruvannamaalai to join him as Ardhanareswara.

​

Accordingly Uma who has assumed the name of Kamakshi in this birth started travelling from Kanchi towards Tiruvannamalai.  On the way she reached a place  presently called Vazhaipandal where sdhe had to stop in order to  offer her daily Anushtanams;  to meet the needs of these as well as to reduce the effect of heat on her body, she prayed to the Lord who sent their son Murugan to fetch water for her.

 

Lord Murugan threw his spear (Vel) on the hill called Chengan Malai, near the present Chengam ;  water spouted out of it and flew down as Cheyyar to quench her thirst. It so happened that seven Brahmins were living inside the hill as a result of a curse by Brahma and the spear sent by Murugan decapitated them resulting in Brahma Hatthi Dosham , a part of which also got attached to Kamakshi since the act was done on her command . Shiva ordered Ambal to stop every day on the way to Tiruvannamalai and do penance as retribution for it. Responding to this, she stopped at seven places enroute which have now become Saptha Kailaya Kshetram with a temple in each. These are at Mondakolathur, Karaipoondi, Thenpallipattu, Pazhankoil, Northampoondi, Thamaraipakkam and Vasudevanpattu.

​

Click here visit the google map link.