Masilamaniswara Temple, Thirumullaivoyal

Masilamaniswara Temple stands at Thirumullaivoyal on the Chennai–Avadi road. Its deity is praised in the Tevaram by Sundarar, making it a Paadal Petra Sthalam, and also by Ramalinga Swamigal and Arunagirinathar. Believed to have been built by the Cholas in the 9th century, it carries inscriptions of the Cholas, Pandyas and Vijayanagara kings, among them a record of land bought for the temple by Sembiyan Mahadevi, mother of Uttama Chola. The goddess, Kodiyidai Nayagi, makes it one of a triad of Sakthi shrines in Tondaimandalam, with Tiruvottiyur and Minjur.

Legend says King Thondaiman, marching against the Kurumbar chiefs Vaanan and Onan, cut through jasmine creepers that had tangled his elephant and found a bleeding linga; Shiva appeared, asked for a temple, and sent Nandi to help him win. That is why the Nandi here faces away from the sanctum, and the linga bears a scar. The vimana over the sanctum is in the gaja prishtam form, shaped like the back of a sleeping elephant.