Shree Mangal Ambikaai – Rinahaareshwar - Mystic Chronicle of Rinahaareshwar's Egression.
The moment you enter his abode is a great assertion about the Shiv-Vaishnav Deity temples. These devotional edifices are the strong storehouses of spiritual energy and give us with strength to overcome the hurdles we face in our life. In line with the above statement and consensus to Tirumular's staunch and assertive. When I say "Shiv! Shiv! My bondage gets severed".

'Rinam' in Sanskrit means debt. Rinahaareshwar is the Almighty who can solve our physical and mental insolvent debts and lead to blissful liberation. In Brahmaand Puraan, a mystic message states that, Maya Daanav, the divine sculptor, etched Shiv's Ling and placed it on the earth for worship. In this context Shiv in the incarnation of Rinahaareshwar appeared at a holy place, Peranampakkam which is about 1 Km west of Tiruvannamalai (Shiv's Holy shrine as Arunaachaleshwar – Ayan's orphic form as one of the five elements – fire form) from Polur. Rinahaareshwar's emergence is believed to solve the present day's human distress.

The Greatness of the Holy Place
Dating 400 years back, during era of monarchies, many scholarly Braahman settled at the North side of the Shrine, worshipped the sovereign Vaidik form of Rinahaareshwar by the four Vaidik Mantra all through the six phases of the day. Further, they also recited the Ved to the masses and practiced justice and truth (Swa-Dharm). Hence, this holy place was referred as 'Chatur-Ved Mangalam' or 'Chatur-Vedipakkam' or 'Brahmanapakkam' . Later, this 'Brahmanapakkam' gradually changed to 'Peranampakkam'. This holy place merits its special status due to Lord Rinahaareshwar's divine mercy on human beings to salvage them from all their liabilities of birth and so the name.

Periya + Rinam + Pakkam = Peranampakkam.
The seven holy lands of Shiv are located on the North bank of River Cheyyaar while on its eastern side, this holy place occupies the midpoint of Polur.

Legend of the Land
Once upon a time, there lived seven hermits, namely Bothavaan, Puthiraandan, Purukoodan, Bothan, Pandurangan, Vaaman and Soman. There were in deep penance standing on seven mounts. As per Brahmaa's suggestion, Lord Muruga's spear severed their head from torso, to grant them salvation. To wipe the sin of this act, in ordinance with Umaa, Lord Muruga hailed Shiv at seven holy places namely Kaanchee, Kadaladee, Mampakkam, Then Mahaadev Mangalam, Elaatur, Poondee and Kuruvimalai. After worshipping Shiv at those places, Muruga was still haunted by Brahm Hatyaa Dosh (the sin of killing Braahman). At last he obtained redemption from Brahm Hatyaa Dosh by worshipping Shiv at Peranampakkam. Hence here Shiv is popularly called as "Janma Paap Rinahaareshwarar'. Ganesh at this holy place is referred as 'Sankat Haaraa Ganapati'.

Further, in Arunaachaleshwar's legendary chronicle (Seyyatru charukkam), it has been mentioned that, during 12th Century a Shiv Temple situated at the north eastern side of Tiruvannamalai was inundated. Since then it never emerged nor found. Today, it is well corroborated with the appearance of Lord Rinahaareshwarar at Peranampakkam. Moreover, a historical account justifies the fact that, in a tussle between Kulothunga Chozha (III) and landlords (Zameendaar) of Sambuvarayaar hierarchy, this Shiv Temple got ruined. Thus, this salvaged Shiv Temple being excavated is our Lord Rinahaareshwarar's abode.

Once the torrent created by Muruga completely washed away the elixir pot of Lord Vishnu kept for Lord Shiv's worship. From the elixir pot, the lotus, sacred thread, sacred grass, upper portion of the pot, an ornament adorned on the pot got shored off at different places and were called as Thamaraipakkam (Lotus), Poondi (Sacred thread – Yagyopaveet /Poonal), Pilloor (Sacred grass – Darbhaa, or Dharbaipil), Kalash Pakkam (Upper portion of the pot – Kalasham), Abaranapakkam (ornament adorned on the pot) alias Peranampakkam respectively.

The archeological inscriptions confirm that during 10th Century, the Chozha Kings named these holy places as mentioned above. Further during the reign of Vijaya dynasty, King Kanda Deva consecrated these holy lands for profound worship activities like lighting the lamps and regular rituals all through the day by the income earned through levying a tax on the people.

Temple Infrastructure
Like all other Shiv temples, this Rinahaareshwarar's Temple also has beautiful infrastructure. It is composed of the front entrance pergola (adorned with flowers and leafs – reception) leading to the shrine. Eesaanam, Tatpurusham, Vaamadevam, Sadyojaatam, Akorairutayam were the five pots adorned on the apex of the temple crown.