One old man of Kundaiyur near Tirukkuvalai hearing of Sundaramurthi Nayanar's greatness was supplying him with paddy and dhol, when owing to adversity of season being unable to contribute the stipulated quantity prayed to God.
Sundarar sung praying the deity here in favour of the old man and wanted to shift the paddy to Thiruvarur. Shiva was pleased by his devotion and sent the footgrains to his house in Thiruvarur. As per Hindu legend, the image of Shiva, in the form of lingam was made with white sand by Brahma which gave the name Brahmapureeswarar. Navagrahas, the nine planetary deities are believed to have worshipped Shiva to absolve themselves of the sins committed.
The place got the name Thirukolili from kol (planet) which got relief from sins ili. Following the legend, the images of the Navagrahas is located in a single line in the temple.
Thyagarajar is called Avani Vidangar and is believed to perform Bringa Natanam. During later period, the place came to be known as Thirukolili. As per another legend, during Mahabharatha, Bheema the Pandava prince was propitiated off his sins of killing Bakasura by worshipping the presiding deity.
Sage Agastya was also believed to have worshipped the presiding deity. The temple has various other names like Brahmapothavanam, Kathakaranyam, Pushapavanam, Thenkailai and Pandavapuram.
There are 19 inscriptions in the temple. As per the inscription, the temple was part of Rajendra Chola Valanadu Ilayalanadu Vendalai Vellorekotram. A devotee named Irulkudian Indrapathinallur Uyyavandhan Jayathundangan commissioned the Mahamandapam and contributed to the renovation till the end of the temple. There were multiple contributions from Jatavarman Sundara Pandyan I.
The inscriptions refer to the presiding deity as "Thirukoili Utaya Nayanar" and Tyagesar as "Avanivitankar Tykar".
The northern street is referred as "Thirumaraikadan Thiruveethi". During Pandya times, there were Saivite Brahmins belonging to Kani Udayar. During the 18th regnal year of Sadayavarman Sundara Pandiyan, 800 gold coins were donated to the temple. The region was called Rajendra Chola Valanadu Vandarai Velakotram as Thirukolili.The temple is now maintained and administered by Dharmapuram Adheenam, a Saivite monastic institution.
Processional Dance
The Thyagarajar Temple at Tiruvarur is famous for the ajapa thanam(dance without chanting), that is executed by the deity itself. According to legend, a Chola king named Mucukunta obtained a boon from Indra(a celestial deity) and wished to receive an image of Thyagaraja Swamy(presiding deity, Shiva in the temple) reposing on the chest of reclining Lord Vishnu.
Indra tried to misguide the king and had six other images made, but the king chose the right image at Tiruvarur. The other six images were installed in Thirukkuvalai, Nagapattinam, Tirukarayil, Tirukolili, Thirukkuvalai and Tirumaraikadu. All the seven places are villages situated in the river Cauvery delta. All seven Thyagaraja images are said to dance when taken in procession (it is the bearers of the processional deity who actually dance). The temples with dance styles are regarded as Saptha Vidangam(seven dance moves) and the related temples are as under:
| Temple |
Vidangar Temple |
Dance pose |
Meaning |
| Thyagarajar Temple |
Vidhividangar |
Ajabathaanam |
Dance without chanting, resembling the dance of Sri Thyagaraja resting on Lord Vishnu's chest |
| Dharbaranyeswarar Temple |
Nagaradangar |
Unmathanathaanam |
Dance of an intoxicated person |
| Kayarohanaswamy Temple |
Sundaravidangar |
Vilathithaanam |
Dancing like waves of sea |
| Kannayariamudayar Temple |
Adhividangar |
Kukunathaanam |
Dancing like a cock |
| Brahmapureeswarar Temple |
Avanividangar |
Brunganathaanam |
Dancing like a bee that hovers over a flower |
| Vaimoornaathar Temple |
Nallavidangar |
Kamalanaanathaanam |
Dance like lotus that moves in a breeze |
| Vedaranyeswarar Temple |
Bhuvanivividangar |
Hamsapthanathaanam |
Dancing with the gait of a swan |