SHIVA - THE COSMIC DANCER

MALLIKARJUNESHWAR TEMPLE - KOTTAI KOVIL - DHARMAPURI - TAMILNADU Vishnu, Mahadev and Brahma on a panel. Arjuna did penance to Lord Shiva,for acquiring heavenly weapons including the Pasupathartha, for fighting the Kurukshetra war. Lord  Shiva wanted to test the resolve of Arjuna and hence took the roopam of a Kirata - Hunter warrior with his horses and Parvathi reached the place where Arjuna was in meditation. The Kalyana Kamakshi Sannidhi on a raised platform than the Lords. Post meditation Arjuna went on a hunt, he saw a huge wild boar and let an arrow from his bow Gandiva. However, Lord Shiva himself released his arrow at the same time and both the arrows found their mark at the same time. Both claimed victory and in the tuzzle, a  battle  ensued between lord  Kiratamoorthy and Arjuna.  Duel Between Lord Shiva & Arjuna for the boar Arjuna's arrows were consumed by lord Shiva's arrows. Finally Arjuna realised that he was battling against the almighty

 KALABHAIRAVAR TEMPLE - ATHIYAMAAN KOTTAI - DHARMAPURI - TAMILNADU The Adhiyaman kottai or fort was built by King Adhiyaman around the 9th Century AD. He is also known as one of the se ven greatest Kings of Tamilnadu "Kadaiyazhu Vallals” He got an Amla fruit which when eaten would ensure a very long life for the eater. Instead of eating the fruit himself, he gifted the same to Avvaiar, the famous lady Poet saint of Tamilnadu .  The Athiyamaan fort was built in an Oval shape and contained towns and a large lake in order to protect the people from invasion. The fort now appears like a circular mud wall and can be seen in the map. The King belonged to one of the four contemporary dynasties of Tamilnadu namely Athiyamaan, the others being the Chola’s,Chera’s and the Pandya’s. The dynasty has mention in the Purana’s & other Tamilnadu Literature also by the name of Adigamaan. King Adiyaman must have been a great King, whose annals are lost in history books and needs much mo