KarivalamKulam Nataraja Temple ,kalakkad,tamilnadu Dis

One of the five important Nataraja temples in India, the Karivalamkulam Temple is said to have been built by King Sundara Pandyan of Thirunelveli to cure his only daughter, who was mentally deranged.

Built beside a lake, which served as a watering hole for elephants (kari) from the forest nearby, Karivalamkulam (literally, lake surrounded by elephants) is said to be built by the sculptor who also built four other famous Nataraja Temples in India including the celebrated Chidambaram Temple. Legend has it that the sculptor whose right palm was cut off by a ruler jealous of his extraordinary skills got back his hand soon after he created the idol at Karivalamkulam.

This temple gains more significance as the only one in the world where the idol gained chaithanya (strength) even before life was infused into it through the prathista karma (installation ceremony).