Map showing location of Tirumangalakudi temple from Aaduthurai bus stand.
Map courtesy by: Google Maps

Sun God Sooriyan, Lord Vishnu, Goddess Kali, God Brahma, Saint Agasthiyar are believed to have worshipped God Shiva at this Sthalam. According to the legend, a minister by name Alaivaanar working under the Chola King First Kulothungan, spent all the money collected by way of taxes and other revenues for renovating the God Shiva's temple at Tirumangalakudi. The king came to know of this and sent word for the minister to meet him personally. The minister, fearing that the king will punish him for renovating the temple with the funds due to the government, committed suicide. His wife, an ardent devotee of God shiva like her husband, broght her husband's dead body to Tirumangalakkudi for cremation. On approaching Tirumangallkudi, she prayed to God Shiva and his female consort Mangalayagi. By God's grace, the minister got his life back at this Shivasthalam and main deity is kown as Praana Natheswarar.

According to the legend, a saint by name Kalapa Munivar, by using his divine powers, came to know that he is to be affected by leprosy disease soon. He prayed to all the 9 Navagrahas to avoid getting this disease. The Navagr ahas appeared in front of the saint and told him that they cannot change the fate and he is destined to suffer from leprosy. The saint got angry and cursed that Navbagrahas will also get the same diesease i.e., leprosy. Navagrahas, affected by the disease, came to this temple and worshipped Praana Nathesewarar so that they can be relieved from the curse and the diesease. God Shiva, pleased with their worship, appeared before them and told them to do penance at a nearby place and accordingly Navagrahas got cured from the disease and thus freed themselves from the curse.

It is of special mention here that the Vilva Tree inside the garden in this temple has 11 petals in its leaves.

2 Kms from Adudurai (which is 15 Kms from Kumbakonam) is Thirumangalakkudi. The main deity here is Shiva as Praneswarar or Prananathaswamy and Mangalambigai. Parvati, in the form of a parrot is said to have been relieved of a curse at this holy place, and the divine marriage is said to have taken place on Makara Sankranti day. Hence this place came to be known as a Mangala Kshetram. This is also known as a Pancha Mangala Kshetram, because the Ganesha here is known as Mangala Vinayakar, the name of the place is Mangalakkudi, the goddess is Mangalambigai, the Vimanam is Mangala Vimanam, and the main Teertham is Mangala Teertham.

It is believed that the minister of a Chola King used up taxes in building this temple. When the king found out, he ordered the minister to be killed. He granted the minister his last wish to be cremated at this place. The minister's wife ardently prayed to the goddess to forgive her husband, and the goddess blessed her by returning the minister to life here. The older legend of this temple states that the Navagrahas - nine planets were relieved of their curse after praying to Shiva at this place. It is believed that this temple should be visited first, before going on to visit Suryanar Kovil nearby, which, in spite of being dedicated to Surya, the Sun god, has separate sanctums for all the navagrahas.