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Lord Shiva appears in the temple as Shakti Dakshinamurthy in separate shrine. He is holding the Nectar Pot and the palm leaves in His left hands embracing Mother. Sage Brugu is nearby worshipping the Lord.

In the beginning, the Shiva was in the midst of Kalli trees and so the name of the place is called Thirukallil and the Shiva is called Thirukalleeswarar. Rishi Bhrigu said to have worshipped Shiva here with 1000 Kalli flowers and Shiva appeared to him in the form of Sakthi Dhakshinamurthy, i.e., Dhakshinamurthy with Goddess Sakthi which is unique to this place.

In another legend, when many Devars and rishis assembled at Kailasam for Shiva & Parvathis marriage, North was going down and South was going up. So Shiva asked Agasthiar to go to south to balance out. During that trip, Agasthiar was camping at Pancheshti near here doing five yahams (pancha means five and Ishti means yaham). Shiva appeared to him in the form of Somaskandar and asked him to come to Thirukkallil. When Agasthiar visited this place, he was surprised to find the temple itself in the form of Somaskandar, i.e., Subramanyas shrine is situated in between the Shiva and Parvati shrines (So Uma Skanda So is Shiva, Uma is Parvathi and Skanda is Murugan). He camped here for one mandalam (41 days) and worshipped Shiva. Shiva gave Shiv anandha dharshan to Agasthiar with Ambal here to compensate his not being able to be there at Shivas marriage (at the behest of Shiva himself) and so Shiva is called Sivanandiswara and Ambal as Anandhavalli.

Rama?s sons Kucha & Lava fought with Lakshman and Ramar at Siruvarpuri near here. They came here, took a dip at a river and worshipped Shiva. The river is called Kuchasthalai since Kucha took a dip.

Thirugnanasambhandar, after visiting Thiruvenpakkam came here en route to Kalahasthi. When he was taking a dip at Kuchasthalai river, his belongings of Pooja box and Vibhoothi (holy ash) bag were found missing. He came here and found Shiva lingam in the midst of Kalli trees with his missing items near it. So he praised Sivanandiswara as a thief (kalvan) in his patikam.

Sage Brugu has the habit of worshipping Lord Shiva only.  He went to Mount Kailashto worship the Lord.  Lord was with Mother Parvathi.  The sage worshipped Lord only ignoring Mother which hurt Her. Mother sat very close to Lord to make the sage worship her also. But the sage took the form of a fly and circumambulated Lord Shiva only. To teach the sage a lesson that Shiva and Shakti are but one, Lord granted darshan in the Arthanareeswara form means half male and half female. Yet, the sage still thought that Shiva alone was supreme.

The sage then came down to earth on a pilgrimage and reached this place.  He worshipped the Shivalinga once worshipped by Sage Agasthya with Kallil flowers. Lord Shiva told the sage that Shiva and Shakti were inseparable and one power alone could not act. Lord kept Mother on His lap. The sage understood the truth.

The sage begged the pardon of Ambica for his folly. Too pleasant with the prayer of the sage, Mother said that he would always be in a state of bliss (Anandam). Hence, as bliss boon giver, Mother is called Anandavalli. Mother?s shrine is facing east left of Lord?s shrine. The left hand of mother shows Her feet while the right is assuring the devotees of all prosperities.

A lamp is ever burning in the shrines of Lord and Mother that never extinguishes. Lord Sri Balasubramanya?s shrine is in between those of Lord and Mother, as he granted darshan to Sage Agasthya. This is called Somaskanda form. Lord Balasubramanya-Muruga is holding the Japamala in the right hand and the theertha Kalasa (water pot) in the left with the attributes of Lord Brahmma.

Nandhi in the temple has its own significance.  Lord is named after him as Shiva Nandi Easwarar and the sacred spring Nandi Theertham.

Lord Sundara Vinayaka and Sri Anjaneya are in the prakara while serpent deities are Nagar and Navagrahas the nine planets are under the gooseberry tree. Those who have lost their belongings perform abishek to Bhairava with Chilli powder hoping to get them back and perform abishek with milk after recovery.

The ground level of north went deeply down due to the weight of the crowd gathered to witness the wedding Lord Shiva and Mother Parvathi.  Lord Shiva asked sage Agasthya to go to south to balance the earth level equally. Sage Agasthya implored the Lord that He should grant him the wedding darshan at any place he asks for. The sage was relaxing at Tirupalaivanam. Lord appeared in the dream of the sage and showed this place. Lord Shiva granted not only His wedding darshan but also the Somaskanda darshan along with Lord Muruga. Agasthya prayed to Lord that this darshan should ever be available to all devotees. Granting the boon to Sage Agasthya, Lord Shiva rose from here as Swayambu Linga and assumed the name Shiva Nandi Eeswara.

Moolavar : Shiva Nandeeswarar, Thirukalleeswarar

Other deities: Sundara Vinayagar, Kaalatheeswarar, Bala subramaniar, Sakthi Dhakshinamoorthy

Urchavar: Somaskandar

Amman / Thayar: Anandavalli

Thala Virutcham : Kalli

Theertham : Nandi Theertham created by Nandiswara

Agamam / Pooja : Shivagama

Old year : 1000-2000 years old

Historical Name : Tirukallil

Patikam: Thirugnanasambandar

This shivasthalam temple is located 4 Kms from Kanniputtur village otherwise known asKannigaipper. To reach Kanniputtur village, one has to travel by bus from Chennai to Periyapalayam via Kannigaipper route and get down at Kannigaipper bus stop. A branch road from here goes to Tirukandalam. Bus route No.58D from Chennai Koyambedu Market to Vengal goes via Kannigaipper and Tirukandalam. The bus stops at Tirukandalam near the temple. The road that connects Periyapalayam with the Kolkatta highway was a scenic green all through. For about 10 kms, the Periyapalayam devotees were cooking, eating and relaxing on the roadside all the way.

About 40 km from Chennai and 10 km from Periyapalayam. Thirukallil, Periyapalayam and Siruvarpuri are all in a circular route to the left of the Kolkatta highway when you go from Chennai. So you can take the clockwise route Thirukallil, Periyapalayam and Siruvarpuri in that order, or the reverse. We took the reverse route.

Immediately after the toll gate near the Karanodai bridge, the road to Periyapalayam branches off to the left. Proceed further for another 5-6 kms and look for the Way toSiruvarpuri temple board which is on the 33 km on the highway. The temple is about 4 to 5 kms from there on the left side. From Siruvarpuri, on the same road if you proceed further for about 6 kms, you will reach Arani and then Periyapalayam is another 6 kms.

On the Periyapalayam-Chennai route, at about 10 kms from Periyapalayam, at a place called Kannigaiper (also called Kanniputhur) you have to take a right turn in the bazaar area for Thirukallil. The temple is around 4 kms from there but after 2-3 kms, better to check with the villagers on every road branch since there is no board to guide and it is very easy to slip out the left diversion to the temple.

Around this area, there are more places of significance are Vengal, Vada Madhurai, Pancheshti, Gnayiru, Alamathi, Ariyathurai, Andarkuppam

A calm village unpolluted from the mad crowd of the city. Literally, not a single shop around the temple and so come prepared with all your pooja and food requirements. The temple is a very small one, clean and very well maintained. It was a pradhosham day and a family from Chennai was doing the pradhosha abisheham themselves. One of them was singing songs (thiruppugazh) and was totally immersed in Shiva Bakthi and that they are doing this for quite a long time. It is to be present there on a Pradhosham at such an important temple without any crowd at all.

The temple tank in front of the temple, Nandhi Thirtha created by Nandiswara, is amazingly clean and very familiar for holy dip. Big empty space in front with many big trees and a clean temple tank in the backdrop of the temple. Dhakshinamoorthy with Goddess Shakthi, Shiva, Balamurugan and Ambal in the same line and direction in Somaskanda form.

18th of the 32 Tevara Stalams in the Tondai region. Worshipped by Bruhu rishi, Agasthiar, Lava & Kucha, and Thirugnanasambandar. 12th to 15th Centuryinscriptions from the Chola, Pandya and Vijayanagar Emperors. Lord Vinayaka of the temple is praised as Sundara Vinayaka. Vimana the tower above the sanctum sanctorum is known as Gajabrushta Vimana. In his Thevaram hymn, saint Tirugnanasambandar describes the mastery of Lord Shiva as a singer, dancer and wearing serpent ornaments. Yet He holds a begging bowl and resides in a Kalli forest praised by devotee scholars.

Per Bruhi rishi those who worship Sakthi Dhakshinamoorthy here on Thursdays with Kalli flowers, after taking holy dip at the Nandhi Theertham, will get their hunger and poverty erased out, acquire great knowledge and wealth and get their wishes fulfilled.

Thirugnanasambhandar in his patikam says that those who worship here will acquire fame and happiness.

Couples separated for some reason or other pray to Lord Dakshinamurthy by archanas with Kalli flowers for re-union. People also pray for removal of obstacles in wedding proposals, freedom from poverty and all family welfare and prosperity.

Devotees perform abishek to Lord Shiva, Mother Anandavalli and Lord Dakshinamurthy offering vastras.

Tirukarthikai in November-December
Mahashivrathri in February-March
Skanda Sashti in October-November
Thai Pusam is a festival day and Theppotsavam will be there.
Margazhi Tiruvadhirai in December-January, Vinayaka Chathurthi, Navarathri, Karthigai Deepam and Full moon day in the month of Ayppasi (Annabhishegam) are the festivals of the temple.

The temple is open from 6.00 a.m. to 12.00 p.m. and from 5.00 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Do:

Do pray your Ishta Devata before pilgrimage to Temple.
Do contact Temple Devasthanam information centre for enquiry, temple information and for Pooja details etc.
Do reserve your travel and accommodation at Temple well in advance.
Do bath and wear clean clothes before you enter the temple.
Do concentrate on God and Goddess inside the temple.
Do maintain silence and recite Om Namahsivaya or your Istamantram to yourself inside the temple.
Do observe ancient custom and traditions while in Temple.
Do respect religious sentiments at Temple.
Do deposit your offerings in the hundi only.

Don't s:

Do not come to Temple for any purpose other than worshipping of God and Goddess.
Do not smoke at Temple.
Do not consume alcoholic drinks at Temple.
Do not eat non-vegetarian food in the Kshetram.
Do not approach mediators for quick Darshanam. It may cause inconvenient to others.
Do not carry any weapon inside the temple.
Do not wear any head guards like helmets, caps, turbans and hats inside the temple premises.
Do not perform Sastanga Pranama inside the Sanctum Sanctorum.
Do not take much time while performing Sparsa Darshanam to God in Garbhagriha.
Do not buy spurious prasadams from street vendors.
Do not encourage beggars at Temple.
Do not spit or create nuisance in the premises of the temple.