01The boat on the Vettaru
The Vettaru, also called the Mulli or Agastya Kaveri, runs west of the temple. The katha says the river was in flood when Sambandar came, with no boatman to steer, and he and his devotees boarded a boat; he sang his padigam and the boat went over. A shrine to Sambandar stands on the far bank, and the Odam festival, the festival of the boat, is held on the new moon of Aippasi. Pancha Aranya means five forests: Mullaivanam at Tirukkarukavur, Padhirivanam at Avalivanallur, Vannivanam at Haridwaramangalam, Poolaivanam at Alangudi and Vilvavanam here.
Visiting
About 5 km from Kudavasal; take the branch road at Sellur on the Kudavasal–Koradacheri road. Come for the Odam festival on Aippasi Amavasya.
