Govindaraja Perumal Temple

According to legends, the mountain Chitrakoodamalai in North India was the place where Lord Rama once had been. When Lord Rama was sent along with his wife Sita and brother Lakshman to exile, he found a place in South India that reminded him of the mountain in the north. He named that place Chitrakoodam and stayed there during his exile. That is how Chitrakoodam got its name.

According to legend, Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati once decided to have a dance duel. Lord Shiva asked Lord Brahma to judge their duel at thiruvaalankaadu. Unable to make a decision about the winner, Lord Brahma asked them to seek Lord Vishnu’s help. Lord Vishnu asked them to duel in Chitrakoodam. When Lord Shiva started dancing, his earring fell off. Lord Vishnu felt that now Lord Shiva would lose and was about to declare Goddess Parvati as the winner. However, Lord Shiva picked up the earring and put it back on with his feet and continued dancing. This greatly impressed Lord Vishnu and Goddess Parvati. Goddess Parvati conceded defeat and Lord Vishnu declared Lord Shiva as the winner.