01Vishnu’s tapas
The temple’s katha says Bhagwan Vishnu sat in tapas here wishing to take the form of Shiva, and was told to wait until Sambandar came and sang; when the hymn was sung he melted into the linga, which is why the second shrine is Othavurugeesar and the linga shows Vishnu’s feet. A hundred and eight Rudras are said to have done tapas here too. Appar and Sundarar have padigams on Kachi Metrali. Unusually for Kanchi, where Kamakshi is the Devi of every Shiva temple, Metrali has its own Devi shrine.
Visiting
In the Pillaiyarpalayam quarter of Kanchipuram, a short way from Ekambareswarar; the other Kanchi Tevaram shrines can be seen in one day.
