01Jatayu’s tank
The temple’s katha says Jatayu did tapas here, longing to bathe at Kashi and Rameswaram and gain release. Shiva told him that he would fall fighting Ravana for Sita and never make those journeys, and made for him the Mukkudal tirtham, the meeting of three waters, held equal to the Triveni; it has sixteen wells in it and is called Shodasa Setu. So people call the village Kuruvi Rameswaram. Rama too is said to have offered water here for Dasharatha. The Sanskrit name of the Lord is Trinetra, the three-eyed, and Mukkonanathar is a worn-down form of Mukkannanathar. On Shivaratri in Masi the sun reaches the linga.
Near Kekkarai, a short drive from Tiruvarur: cross the railway at Kekkarai, go on 1 km, take the left fork after the small bridge and continue 1 km.
