History

The Holy Marathan for the Temples of Lord Siva begins at Tirumalai Mahadevar Temple at Munchirai. This temple is famous and reputed in history. A version of the story goes that the temple was famous in all the four Yugas.
In Kirudayugam it was known as Sreesylam, in Thirethayugam Swamy Sylam, in Dhwaparayuga Bavyasylam and in Kaliyuga Sivasylam. The deity is called Soolabani and Suyambu.

This temple was famous even during the Stone Age and the time of Ramayana and Mahabharata. The stone carvings available in the temple are as old as eleventh century AD, i.e., during the reign of Rajendra Chola I. According to this ancient carving, the Deity is called as Munchirai Thirumalai Thevar.

It is said that the mother of Thirumalai Nayakar conceived him while she was staying at a Fort near this place now called Uthachikottai . Another interesting matter is the name of the temple is given to the Nayak. The gold Garment and the crown are donated by Thirumalai Nayakar to this temple, the weight being 14 kilograms. There is a place known as Uthachikottaram after the name of the king's mother and it is now known as Chechi Kottaram at Suchindram.