GETS THE NAME THIRU AALA VAAI

Many kings ruled the Pandiyan kingdom. During the rule of Keeerthi Pandiyan the world was about to extinct. All the  seven seas swelled up. There was water every where. Though the whole world immersed in water, the flood waters did not enter the shrine of Goddess Meenakshi. The towers stood high as usual. There was no damage for the Portamarai tank. Further the yanai malai, Naaga malai, pasu malai, Panri malai, rishaba malai  situated around Madurai town were not damaged. .Some how the flood water receded. God with his grace recreated the world.  The living beings including human beings appeared once again. One yugam was over another yugam started. In that new yugam  one Vankiya sekara Pandiyan became the first ruler. He renovated the Meenakshi temple and performed Kumbabishegam. He constructed the streets around the temple. It was just like a town. But the houses constructed in the streets were not sufficient for the population. Those persons who did not have dwelling places to live, went to the king and complained that they are undergoing sufferings because of hot summer and rain as they  live in open space. They
Requested to build a new town. The king who understood their sufferings, made arrangements to expand the city further. It was to  be decided till what distance it should be expanded. He decided to entrust this great responsibility to Lord Sundareswarar himself and he went to the temple and prayed him. He told his deficiency to the Lord. At that time a divine voice ws heard. It said that it will construct this town.

One day a siddhar (Mystic person)came to the city. In his hand there was a snake.  He was walking on the streets stroking the same with his hands. People went behind him. The king Vankiya sekaran received the news about the arrival of the siddhar in his city. He went and worshipped him. Siddhar in his presence talked to the snake “Aalame, Naaga deva, This king wants to know the boundary upto which he can expand and construct the city. Will you show him the same?” At that time Naaga devan appeared from the snake. “O” Lord, Salutations to you, I will show the boundary for this city. But you should promise that you will name this city with my name. Slddhar told him that it will be known by his name only. That siddhar is none other than Lord Soma sundareswarar. He only had come there in disguise as siddhar. Immediately the snake bent. It took a very big shape and form. It seized its tail’s end by its mouth. It was in a round shape at that time. That round shape got expanded slowly. The king took note of the boundary. Then the snake reduced its shape and size to its original form reached the hand of the Siddhar and became a bangle in his hand .In that area of land which was in round shape like a wheel the king constructed a fort wall. The Fort’s south gate as Tirupparan kunram, North gate as Rishaba malai, west gate as Tiru venkata malai and the east gate as Tirupoovanam(Tiruppuvanam now) were called. Within  this fort’s  boundary a very great city with attractive streets were raised. Because Aalam the snake made the boundary with its voice this city is called AALAVAI.