Kesan Kesi.

ONCE UPON A TIME Brahma wanted to have the darshan of Vishnu in Kanchana Sringam. He therefore performed a yaga at a place known as Mahendra giri close to Thiruvattar. Somehow he failed to associate his divine consort and inform Goddesses Saraswati of this yaga. the Goddesses was annoyed of this slight and to show her annoyance and the procedure to be followed she undertook a decission to vengence and as she is the goddesses of learning it is said that the rendering and reciting of the mantras and the procedure of performance were hampered with wrong actions. As the yaga was not performed with ordained rites and correct pronounciation, two evil spirits one male and one female emerged out of the homa kunda sacrificial fires. they were Kesan and Kesi. As they emerged out of the homa kunda they automatically became immortal, they out of arrogance and pride started troubling the rishis and the devas, destroying all things. Brahma with the devas approached Vishnu. Lord Vishnu promised to set right the situation.
The Lord took the form of Kesava and set out to destroy the asuras. a fierce fight was fought for seven days. Due to immortality Kesan could not be killed. he lifted Kesan and threw him down the Mahendragiri. The Lord in Senbaga vanam blew his Panchajanya conch and assumed his varata roopa Kesan was frightened he tripped and fell, immediately Adisesha jumped on Kesan and coiled himself tightly round him immobilising him the Lord put a lid on so to say by lying down on Adisesha. The Lord got the name Kesi madana nathan. Kesan was trying his best to free himself he started pushing his long arms trough the wound coils. Lord Kesava installed Sivalingas on the outstretched palms. this accounts for the 12 Siva temples in and around Tiruvattar. they are.
Tirumalai (Soolapani)
Thireeparappu (Jatadhara)
Thikkurichi (Mahadeva)
Thirunandikkara (Nandikesvara)
Ponmani (Thimbilesvara)
Pannippakkam (Kirata murthi)
Kalkulam (Nilakanta swami)
Melaankodu (Kaala Kaalar)
Thiruvidaicode (Jadai appar)
Thiruvithamcode (Parithipani)
Thiruppaniyode (Bakthavatchala)
Thirunattalam (Ardhanareesvara)
On Mahasivratri day the pilgrims after visiting the 12  Sivalayas also worship at Tiruvattar to complete the cycle of worship to receive the lords blessings.
Kesi joined with Kodhai and became a river the two rivers joined at a place Moovaatru mukham the Lord cursed them saying they will not have Punaragam (Meaning please if any one knows) they then sought Sapa vimochana. the Lord took a dip at the confluence of the two rivers and blessed them this is recreated even today with a utsavam at this same place during the months of March - April.