Sweet Puttu and Madurai Chokkanathar

Puttu Chokkanathar Temple is a Shiva temple in Madurai where Puttu is very famous. A beautiful story as why Chokkanathar is called Puttu Chokkanathar.

Once, the Pandya King ordered every one person in a house in Madurai should come for

putting sand on the banks of the river Vaigai to control flood. An old lady, who sold Puttu had no one she can send for the work. Shiva disguised as a young man approached the old lady with a deal. He will do the work for the lady and in return she has to give him Puttu every day

Lady agreed and she gave him Puttu. After having Puttu, instead of working the young man went to sleep. The King, who was supervising the work, beat him with a stick.

But everyone including the king felt the pain in their back

Then the king came to know that the man is none other than Shiva himself. King apologised for the mistake. Annual Puttu festival is celebrated here even today to remember this event.