01Agastya’s wedding darshan
Kalli, the milk-hedge, is the sthala tree, and the old name Kallil comes from it. When Agastya was sent south at Shiva’s wedding, he was promised the sight of it wherever he wished; the temple’s katha says Shiva showed himself here in wedding form and also as Somaskanda, with Uma and Murugan. The sage Bhrigu is also said to have worshipped here. Dakshinamurthy, the silent teacher, usually sits alone under the banyan; here the Devi is with him. Karthigai, Mahashivaratri, Tiruvadirai and Skanda Shashti are kept.
Visiting
Thirukandalam is about 35 km north-west of Chennai, near Uthukottai.
