01The swan’s pool
In the Lingodbhava katha Brahma flew up as a swan to find the top of the pillar of fire, and falsely claimed he had. The temple says Shiva left him in the swan’s form and sent him to this punnai grove; Brahma dug the Annamam Poigai, the swan’s pool, worshipped with its water and regained his form, and the day is kept on Masi Magam. The temple rises like a small hill with steps no elephant could climb, which is why the Tevaram calls it Perunthirukkoyil. Padikkasu Vinayakar, who gave a famine-struck king a measure that filled itself each day, stands at the foot of the steps. Somasimara Nayanar served the Lord here.
Visiting
About 5 km from Poonthottam on the Tiruvarur–Mayiladuthurai road, on the north bank of the Arasalar; Ambar Makalam is 2 km west.
