Thirugnana Sambanthar melody made Vishnu melt and formed Siva Linga

Saint Sundarar in his Thevaram hymn says that how he could praise a Lord other than Him gracing from Tirumettrali as He enters the heart sooner thought of as a light, sweet as honey and nectar.   This is the 2nd Shiva Temple in Thondainadu region praised in Thevaram hymns.

As Mother Kamakshi is regarded as the only Mother Goddess in Kancheepuram, there are no Ambica shrines in most of the Shiva temples here.  Yet this is one temple with an exception with Mother Parasakthi having Her own shrine facing east blessing the devotees with Her sweet appearance.  As Lord Shiva is facing west –Merku in Tamil- He is named Mettraleeswarar.  The word Thali (Mettrali_ also means temple.

In the sanctum sanctorum of other presiding Lord Odhavurugeeswar, we can have the darshan of Lord Shiva and the feet of Lord Vishnu nearby simultaneously ensuring all prosperous life, according to belief.  Saint Tirunavukkarasar praises Kancheepuram as a city of boundless education – Kalviyil Karai Illadha Kanchi Ma Nagar.  Hence, worshipping Lord Shiva here the devotee is gifted with good education.  Though Tirumettraleeswar is the principal deity, the Rajagopuram and the main entrance belongs to Odha Urugeeswarar.  The Pradosha puja is dedicated only to Nandhi the bull vehicle of Lord Odha Urugeeswarar.

Muyalagan, symbol of Ignorance under Lord Dakshinamurthy is on the left of the Lord differently against the right side.  100 Rudras, Seekandar, Veerabadra, Krodhar and Mandalathipathis, all totaling 116, had worshipped Lord in this temple.

Saint Gnana Sambandar who sang in praise of the Lord from the end of the street has his shrine there itself.  As the saint is also known as Aludaipillayar and Sambanda Pillayar, the place is also named Pillayar Palayam.  The place also has a name Pachimalayam.

Temple History 

Lord Vishnu reclining in milk ocean had a desire to have the form of Shiva Linga and approached Lord Shiva for the purpose.  Shiva pleaded inability.  But Vishnu did not give in and began penance on Shiva.  Surprised at his determination, Lord Shiva told Vishnu that He could have His wish by performing penance at this place on His Swayambu facing west.  Lord Vishnu came to this place, began penance facing east in a standing form after a bath in Vegavati River. 

Saint Tirugnana Sambandar was visiting this place-Mettraliyur – the same time, saw Lord Vishnu standing in penance.  The saint thought it was Lord Shiva as he was at the back.  Saint began singing in praise of the Lord.  Vishnu in penance was moved by the divine melody and began to melt.  When He got the Linga form, His – Vishnu – feet remained.  Now too we have the darshan of both Shiva Linga and Vishnu feet at the sanctum sanctorum.

As Vishnu began to melt at the singing of the saint, the name came Odha-singing, Urugu-melting, Easwarar-God –Odhavurugeeswarar.

திருக்கச்சிமேற்றளி  -  Thirumurai 7.21

1. நொந்தா வொண்சுடரே நுனை
யேநி னைந்திருந்தேன்
வந்தாய் போயறியாய்
மனமேபு குந்துநின்ற
சிந்தாய் எந்தைபிரான் திரு
மேற்ற ளிஉறையும்
எந்தாய் உன்னையல்லால் இனி
ஏத்த மாட்டேனே.

2. ஆட்டான் பட்டமையால் அடி
யார்க்குத் தொண்டுபட்டுக்
கேட்டேன் கேட்பதெல்லாம் பிற
வாமை கேட்டொழிந்தேன்
சேட்டார் மாளிகைசூழ் திரு
மேற்ற ளிஉறையும்
மாட்டே யுன்னையல்லால் மகிழ்ந்
தேத்த மாட்டேனே.

3. மோறாந் தோரொருகால் நினை
யாதி ருந்தாலும்
வேறா வந்தென்னுள்ளம் புக
வல்ல மெய்ப்பொருளே
சேறார் தண்கழனித் திரு
மேற்ற ளியுறையும்
ஏறே யுன்னையல்லால் இனி
ஏத்த மாட்டேனே.

4. உற்றார் சுற்றமெனும் மது
விட்டு நுன்னடைந்தேன்
எற்றால் என்குறைவென் இட
ரைத்து றந்தொழிந்தேன்
செற்றாய் மும்மதிலுந் திரு
மேற்ற ளிஉறையும்
பற்றே நுன்னையல்லால் பணிந்
தேத்த மாட்டேனே.

5. எம்மான் எம்மனையென் றவர்
இட்டி றந்தொழிந்தார்
மெய்ம்மா லாயினதீர்த் தருள்
செய்யும் மெய்ப்பொருளே
கைம்மா ஈருரியாய் கன
மேற்ற ளிஉறையும்
பெம்மான் உன்னையல்லால் பெரி
தேத்த மாட்டேனே.

6. நானேல் உன்னடியே நினைந்
தேன்நி னைதலுமே
ஊனேர் இவ்வுடலம் புகுந்
தாய்என் ஒண்சுடரே
தேனே இன்னமுதே திரு
மேற்ற ளிஉறையும்
கோனே உன்னையல்லாற் குளிர்ந்
தேத்த மாட்டேனே.

7. கையார் வெஞ்சிலைநா ணதன்
மேற்ச ரங்கோத்தே
எய்தாய் மும்மதிலும் மெரி
யுண்ண எம்பெருமான்
செய்யார் பைங்கமலத் திரு
மேற்ற ளிஉறையும்
ஐயா உன்னையல்லால் அறிந்
தேத்த மாட்டேனே.

8. விரையார் கொன்றையினாய் விம
லாஇனி உன்னையல்லால்
உரையேன் நாவதனால் உட
லில்உயிர் உள்ளளவும்
திரையார் தண்கழனித் திரு
மேற்ற ளிஉறையும்
அரையா உன்னையல்லால் அறிந்
தேத்த மாட்டேனே.

9. நிலையா நின்னடியே நினைந்
தேன்நி னைதலுமே
தலைவா நின்னினையப் பணித்
தாய்ச லமொழிந்தேன்
சிலையார் மாமதில்சூழ் திரு
மேற்ற ளிஉறையும்
மலையே உன்னையல்லால் மகிழ்ந்
தேத்த மாட்டேனே.

10. பாரூர் பல்லவனூர் மதிற்
காஞ்சி மாநகர்வாய்ச்
சீரூ ரும்புறவிற் றிரு
மேற்ற ளிச்சிவனை
ஆரூ ரன்னடியான் அடித்
தொண்டன்ஆ ரூரன்சொன்ன
சீரூர் பாடல்வல்லார் சிவ
லோகஞ் சேர்வாரே.

Civaṉ who is like the lamp which is burning brightly without trimming!
perpetual lamp the master of my father.
my father who dwells in Tiru Mēṟṟaḷi.
the object of meditation which entered into my mind which was always thinking of you only.
having entered into my mind you do not know to leave it.
definitely I will not praise any one else here after.

my wealth that dwells in tirumēṟṟaḷi surrounded by great mansions!
having become your slave.
doing service to your devotees.
I received all that I request you to grant me.
I stopped with asking from you the means for not being born again.
definitely I will not praise with joy any one else except you.

Civaṉ who is like the lion and dwells in Tirumeṟṟaḷi surrounded by cool fields full of mire!
though I may not think of you at some times out of laziness.
the real thing that is capable of entering into my mind by some other way .
definitely I will not haire anyone hereafter.

the support which dwells in tirumēṟṟaḷi!
I approached you renouncing near relatives and distant relatives is there any want for my by anything?
I definitely renounced my sufferings.
you destroyed all the three forts.
definitely I will not praise any one else except you, bowing before them.

the real thing that grants its grace removing the confusion born out of this body.
the god who dwells in the eminent mēṟṟaḷi!
you who wears a skin wet with blood flayed from an elephant!
those who are my father and my mother are dead and gone, leaving me to shift for myself.
definitely I will not praise any other god except you thinking him to be great.

my bright lamp!
who is as sweet as honey!
the sweet nectar!
the King who dwells in tirumēṟṟaḷi!
speaking about myself.
I meditated on your feet only.
as soon as I did so.
you entered into this body of mine which is made of flesh.
definitely I will not praise any other god except you to the gratification of my mind.

the master who dwells in tirumēṟṟali which has fertile lotuses growing in the fields!
my god, Civaṉ!
you fixed arrow on the bow-string of the cruel bow held in the hand and discharged it for the fire to consume all the three forts.
definitely I will not praise any other god except you, knowing your greatness and their inferiority;

god who wears a garland fragrant koṉṟai flowers!
immaculate Civaṉ!
the King in tirumēṟṟaḷi which has cool fields which have water with waves.
I will not speak about others as gods, as long as life exists in my body, now with my tongue.
definitely I will not praise any other god except you esteeming him superior to you.

the chief!
Civaṉ who is the mountain who dwells in tirumēṟṟali surrounded by big walls of fortifications built with granite stones.
I meditated on your feet only steadfastly.
as I did so.
you ordered me to think of you only without wavering.
I had my sufferings removed.
definitely I will not praise any other god except you;
with joy.

in the big city of Kāñci which is the capital of the pallavaṉ whose away extends over the whole world.
on Civaṉ who dwells in tirumēṟṟali which has forest tracts whose renown has spread everywhere.
those who are able to sing the songs which have measure of time composed by ārūraṉ who venders service in the sanctum of Civaṉ and who is the slave of the god in ārūr.