Sthala Puranam

*"O Lord with fragrant, red, matted locks! O compassionate one, Lord Thirunayanavallal, my beloved protector! You, who share your form with Goddess Uma, who plays amidst the cool waterfalls of the majestic mountains, where poetic rhythm thrives! You, the divine of illustrious Srirangam Arasar (Kings) town, known as Idumbesam, the Lord of all! Glory to you, embodiment of grace, who fulfills the wishes of your devoted worshippers!"*

In the context of the divine:

Among the sacred temples where Lord Shiva, the embodiment of eternal, complete, and blissful consciousness (Sri Akhanda Paripoorna Satchidananda), resides for the salvation of souls, one such divine site is Pandanainallur — located along the banks of the twin Kaveri rivers.

During the grand Divine Wedding Festival (Thirukkalyana Mahotsavam) of Sri Pasupatheeswarar, one of the guardians of the cardinal directions, Agni Deva (Lord of Fire), installed a Shivalingam in the direction of fire (southeast) at this sacred place and worshipped it.

This very place, sanctified by Lord Vishnu’s worship from the center of the holy river, came to be known as Arangarajapuram.

Here, the Pandava king Bhima killed the demon Idumbesan in the darkness of the forest during midnight. In order to absolve the sin accrued from this act, Bhima worshipped the Lord here. The deity came to be known as "Idumbeswarar" (the Lord who absolved the sin of Idumbesan’s slaying).

He is worshipped here along with Sri Kusumakundalambikai (the divine consort).