In the ancient days Chidambaram city is widely known as Thillai as it was then a wide mangrove forest with Thillai trees.
The legend has it that many thousand years ago there was a small Shiva temple near a water tank, in this temple two very pious saints named Vyagrapada and Patanjali did severe penance on Lord Shiva. After their constant prayers and penance, Lord Shiva was please by their penance and as a symbol of acceptance he did his sacred cosmic dance before them.
