Located 28 km south of Chidambaram is Anandathandavapuram, near Mayiladuturai, in Nagapattinam District. It is the birth place of Manakancharu Nayanar and hence is also referred to as Kancharu.
Legend goes that Sri Ananda Maharishi, a siddhar, lived here and travelled to Chidambaram to have darshan of the deity there. Rain and flood made it impossible for him to fulfil his daily ritual and a distraught siddhar decided to end his life. Lord Siva gave him Ananda Thandava darshan and the place derived its name. Composer Gopalakrishna Bharati lived here and worshipped Sri Kalyanasundari Amman sameda Sri Panchavatiswarar deity through 3,000 songs.
The Panchavatiswarar temple is now being renovated. Donations are expected to finish the religious task undertaken at the earliest. For contributions contact A.V.N. Raman, c/o V. Swaminathan, Agraharam Street, Anandathandavapuram, 609103, Mayiladuthurai Taluk, Nagapattinam District. Phone 04364-225732.
