The Linga is split due to the hit by a horse leg.Lord Shiva in the temple is a Swayambumurthi.The presiding deity Shiva is Palvannanathar.Tirukkazhippalai is famous for Palvannanathar Temple.Parents perform the Anna Prasana ritual (first rice feeding of the child) in the temple hoping that the child would never face food problem in life.Shivapada’s joy knew no bounds when he heard that the Great Mother fed his son. Child showed the direction of the temple and sung the first hymn “Thodu Udaya Sevian”.
When Shivapada Hrudayar came back and found milk drops on the face of child, he asked the child who gave him the milk.
Lord Shiva asked Mother Parvathi to feed the child which mother did. Legend,Saint Gnanasambandar was born to Shiva devotees Shivapada Hrudayar and Bhagawathi.When he was three years old, the father came to Brahmma Theertha in the Sirkali temple, left the child in the steps and went for bath.The child felt hungry and cried.Lord is Swayambumurthy in the temple.The temple has one prakara.The Rajagopuram is facing east.The presiding Shiva deity is Uchinathar.His consort is known as Uchinathar.Sivapuri Uchinathar Temple is located at Sivapuri also known as Tirunelvoyil.So, it is belived that, those born in this star pray to her with abishekam and archanas to realise their wishes. Mother Thillaikali is the deity for Magam Star.Kali responded to Brahma’s prayer and appeared before to him as Brahma Chamundeeswari. Lord Brahma appeared there, praised Kali as Veda Nayaki and begged her to calm down with four faces representing the four Vedas. In this Parvathi could not play equally well to this posture and agreed her defeat.She became furious as she was defeated. It could not be played by the women folk due to their modesty and shyness. In order to resolve thus, they performed a dance programme at Chidambaram in front of Vishnu and Bhrama.Siva played on "OORTHAVA THANDAVA" (Ugra Thandavam)i.e. Legend says that Lord Kaali moved here after losing to Lord Siva in the celestial dance contest.It was an argument that who is superior, either 'Sivam' or Shakthi.Lord Dakshinamurthi appears in female form praised as Sri Kadambavana Dakshina Rupini grace the devotees from their shrines in the prakara.This is the only temple where Lord Dakshinamurthi appears in a female form.She is facing west in a standing posture. The presiding deity is Sri Brahmma Chamundeeswari,Sri Thillai Kalli.In this temple, Mother Thillai Kali appears with four faces.Chidambaram is otherwise called as "Thillai" and it is famous for Thillai amman temple.Close by is the east-facing sanctum, also for Goddess Kali, worshipped as Thillai Kali Amman who is seen in a ferocious form, dressed in white with vermillion (kumkum) applied all over.
On being worshipped by Brahma, this deity, who was fierce, calmed down. This Goddess, also called Brahma Chamundi, is seen in a benign form in a standing pose with four arms and four heads which are said to represent the four Vedas. The main sanctum enshrining Thillai Amman faces west. Kali acknowledged defeat and settled down at the place where this temple is situated. The traditional story (Sthala Puranam) associated with this temple is that there was a dance contest between Siva and Kali during which Siva performed the Urdhva Tandava or lifting a leg vertically upwards. It is this goddess who protects Chidambaram, and a pilgrimage to this ancient town is incomplete without a visit to this temple. The Kali temple is an old one, dating at least to the 13th century AD. Many visitors to this historic place are unaware of another ancient temple nearby dedicated to Goddess Kali and known as the Thillai Kali Amman temple. The thought of the sacred town of Chidambaram immediately brings to mind the famed Siva temple dedicated to Nataraja.