One can be forgiven for thinking that this ancient temple is just another temple dedicated to Lord Shiva.
But the Tiruvalleeswarar temple at Padi here, said to be about 1,000 years old, is a Guru Parihara Sthalam.
There is a separate shrine for Lord Guru (Jupiter) – one of the Navagrahas, in the eastern outer corridor. Guru Bhagwan is seen facing west.
The temple is among the 275 sacred temples glorified by the Thevara hymns. The main deity is Tiruvalleeswarar and he faces east.
To his right is the shrine for Goddess Jagathambikai facing south. A beautiful Simha Vaahanam and Palipeetam faces the Goddess from the southern outer corridor.
The main entrance of the temple is the east gopuram (tower) with three tiers and the sanctum sanctorum is in the Gaja Brishta style, resembling the back of a sleeping elephant.
The temple is very unique as Brahaspati, Vishnu, Hanuman, Sugreeva, Rama, Agasthiar, Vayu, Indra, Agni, the Sun and Moon worshipped Shiva here.
Legend has it that sage Bharadwaj assumed the form of a black bird (Karunkuruvi) following a curse, and worshipped Lord Siva here. There is also a Shivalingam believed to have been worshipped by Bharadwaj.
Since he worshipped Lord Siva as Karunkuruvi called Valian, the place came to be called Thiruvalidhaayam and the Lord, Valeeswarar.
Legend also says that Lord Ganesh married Kamalai and Vimalai, daughters of Lord Brahma at this place.
It is said that both Kamali and Valli desired to marry Lord Siva and realising that their wish could not materialise, Lord Brahma asks them to worship Lord Siva from the banks of Paalaru.
Pleased with their devotion, the Lord appeared before them and asked them to marry Lord Ganapaty, since he was already married to Goddess Parvathy.
After vanquishing the demon king Gajamukasuran, Lord Ganesh went to Thiruvalidhaayam (now known as Padi) and married Kamali and Valli.
The sthala viruksham (temple tree) is Paadhiri and the teertham is Bharadwaja Theertham.
Located at Padi, the temple is near the Lucas TVS bus stop.