Vadaranyeswarar Temple, Thiruvalangadu

The Sri Vadaranyeswarar Temple at Thiruvalangadu, a pilgrimage village in Thiruvallur district within reach of Kanchipuram, is a Shiva shrine counted among the Pancha Sabhai, the five halls linked to Shiva's dance. Its own hall is the Ratna Sabhai. The present structure is generally dated to Chola rule in the 12th century, though some inscriptions on the site are older, and a bronze Nataraja recovered here is now kept in the Government Museum, Chennai.

Local legend tells of the demons Sumba and Nisumba, who took refuge here after troubling the world. Parvati took the form of Bhadra Kali and destroyed them, but her anger did not cool until Shiva beat her in a dance contest; he then ruled that devotees should honour her before him. The temple is also tied to the saint Karaikkal Ammaiyar, counted among the 63 Nayanmars, who is said to have crossed the grounds on her head to witness the dance, composed the Mootha Thiruppathigam and attained salvation here.