This is a Shiva Temple, where uniquely it is said Nandi turned around to protect the temple from the floods. Even now, all Nandi statues are facing towards the opposite direction.
There is a place to sit and meditate. You can go into meditative states here effortlessly.
This Temple is also a Mukthi place of Kalikamba Nayanar.
How to get there:
The temple is located in Pennadam.
Map: https://goo.gl/maps/HuHKm1ihyzcjxiYb6
About Sri Pralayakaleshwarar Temple
According to the legend, there was once a flood which was consuming the entire world. This was the only place left that wasn’t submerged in water. Devas (celestial gods) rushed to this place and prayed to Lord Shiva to protect all beings by preventing the water from entering this place. Lord Shiva directed Nandhi to prevent the flood water entering here. Nandhi, till then facing Lord Shiva, turned to the opposite direction, swallowed the incoming flood water and saved this place from getting submerged. Hence, the lord of this place is praised as “Pralaya Kaleswarar” – “the lord who protected the world”. Nandhi, is still facing the opposite direction, that is, facing the entrance of the temple.
Another legend is that once Indira, the king of Devas needed flowers form earth to perform Shiva pooja at his abode. He sent two maidens to earth to bring flowers. Although the maidens found flowers there in plenty, they did not return back to the celestial world and instead decided to stay in this place itself after seeing a Shiva lingam here. They started worshiping this Shiva lingam. When they did not return, Indira sent the divine cow Kamadenu to bring them back. Kamadenu found the maidens but instead of taking them bak she joined them in their worship of the Shiva lingam. When Kamadenu also did not return, Indra was perplexed and sent his white elephant Iravadham in search of them. Iravadham found them worshiping Lord Shiva and decided to join them. He stood near the lingam in such a way that prevented sunlight from falling directly on the Shiva lingam so as to not let the lord feel the heat of the sun.
Finally, Indira himself came down to earth and saw everyone worshiping the lord. He also joined them in the worship. Later on, all of them returned together to the celestial world with the blessings of Lord Shiva.
The name of this place “Pennadam” is believed to have originated from this legend. “Penn” means angel (maidens), “Aa” means divine cow (Kamadenu) and “Kada” means elephant (Iravadham).
Another legend associated with this temple is that of Anandavalli Ammaiyar, an ardent Shiva devotee, who used to worship the lord here regularly. Once there was a heavy flood in the river Vellaru that prevented her from reaching the temple. She decided to perform her daily worship from the other bank of the river itself. Although she completed her worship, she could not see the lord. Lord Shiva realised this and as a token of his appreciation for her devotion, he raised the ground level by about 40 to 50 feet. Even today, the shrine is an elevated position and one has to climb up some steps to enter it.
Source:
https://www.dharisanam.com/temples/sri-pralayakaleswarar-temple-at-pennadam-pennagadam
