Thirukkandiyur Divyadesam - Hara Shaba Vimochana Perumal Temple is located near Thiruvayaru and familiarly known as Kandiyur in memory of Lord Shiva, worshipped as Kandeeswarar, who got the salvation from the curse of Brahmmahathi Dhosham beacause of plucking the fifth head of Lord Bramha Devar. This is a Poorva Janma Punya Kshetram.

Thirukkandiyur Divyadesam is one among the Pancha Kamala Kshetram where the Almighty is blessing as Hara Shaba Vimokshana Perumal with HIS consort Pooranavalli Thayar, who is also worshipped as Kamalavalli Nachiar. The Temple Vimanam is Kamalakruthi Vimanam. Lord Shiva has five faces praised as Eeshan, Thathpurush, Aghoran, Vamadevan and Satyojathan. Lord Brahmma too had five faces earlier. Therefore, he had pride that He was equal to Lord Shiva.

Once when he went to see Lord Shiva to Kailayam, Goddess Parvathi without seeing the face and being with five faces, thought he was Lord Shiva and started to perform Paatha Pooja to Brahma. Having a pride Lord Brahma kept quiet. At that time Lord Shiva arrived and by seeing all the happenings, He got angry and simply plucked the centre head of Brahma, by which he got affected with Brammahatthi Dhosham. when he pinched the fifth head of Lord Brahma, the head got stuck with Shiva's hand as well he lost all his wealth. The head stuck to his hand and did not fall down.

Lord Shiva, to wash off the Brahmmahathi Dhosam went around to many temples with the head of Brahma. At last, Lord Shiva on his pilgrimage trip to find the salvation from the curse by begging for food, with Brahma’s skull as the begging vessel. Every time when someone filled the vessel with food, it vanished immediately to Shiva’s horror.

Finally on reaching Uthamar Koil worshipped as Thirukarambanur Divyadesam, Goddess Lakshmi filled the vessel with food ending Shiva’s hunger. However, to Shiva’s dismay, Brahmma’s Skull still lay fixed on his hand and he was then directed to Thirukandiyur. It is believed that Lord Shiva prayed to Goddess Kamalavalli and the Almighty at Thirukandiyur and attained salvation from Lord Kamalanathan here in this temple. Finally, the head fell down at this place and vanished when Almighty gave him prathyaksham here. Since he begged for food, worshipped as Pikshandavar, Piksha in tamil means Begging.

At last with the help of Lord Maha Vishnu, he got salvation from the curse. Since, Brahma's Sabham was warned ( Kandanam - Warning ) here, this place is called as Kandiyur. As Almighty granted relief from the curse to Lord Shiva - Haran , HE is being worshipped Hara Shaba Vimoshanar. Hara - Shiva, Shabam - Curse, Vimoshanam - Relief from the Curse.

Lord Shiva has His temple here and is praised as Kandeeswarar. The place has the reputation of being honoured as Trimurthy - Mummoorthy ( Three Lords ) Sthalam. Since there is no temple for Brahmma, He has His place in Kandeeswarar temple gracing with Mother Maha Saraswathi. The Lord of the temple is praised by Thirumangai Azhwar. The noteworthy feature is that all three Lords Brahmma, Vishnu and Shiva grace the devotees together in Thirukandiyur Divyadesam.

The temple is also known as Pancha Kamala Kshetram. Hara Shaba Vimokshana Perumal is blessing here in HIS Standing Posture and is also worshipped as Brighunathar and Balinathar. Utsava Murthy is blessing as Kamalanathan and Thayar is blessing as Kamalavalli Nachiyar. According to the scriptures, the temple was built by Emperor Mahabali and is located between Kudamurutti and Vennar Rivers. It has a three-tiered Rajagopuram facing East with two prakarams.

After Garudamandapam and Mahamandapam, Devotees can worship Harasapa Vimoshana Perumal in His Standing Posture. Pushkarini Kapala Moksha Pushkarani is on the western side of the temple. Just opposite to it is the Padma Theertham worshipped as Mahabali Theertham, there are shrines for Lord Narasimhar, Sudharsanar, Sree Andal, and Azhwars in outer prakaram. Kamalavalli Nachiyar is blessing in a separate shrine.

The temple is considered anterior even to Srirangam Divyadesam, as it was in existence during the Kritha Yuga. The temple was renovated due to the efforts of Sreemadh Andavan Sri Rangaramanuja Maha Desihan. Works relating to the Rajagopuram, Perumal and Thayar vimanams had been completed. The earlier renovation of the temple was also undertaken by the previous Andavan Sri Thirukudanthai Vedhandha Ramanuja Mahadesikan.

Kandiyur has the distinction of being one among two sets of temples one of the Saptha Sthaanam Temples and one of the Ashta Veerattana Sthalams - temples where Shiva has shown his power by overcoming someone. Here, at Kandiyur, he crushed the ego of Brahma Devar by plucking off his fifth head. Hence being worshipped as Brahma Shira Kandeeswarar. Hence the name Kandiyur. Ambal here is Mangalambigai. Kannadi Pallakku is very auspecious and famous.

Penance here for 48 Days and lighting 48 Agal Vilakku for 48 Days, Devotees' all shabams and poorva janma karmas can be overcome. Kamala Kshetram. Kamala Nathan. Kamalavalli Thayar. Kamala Vimanam and Kamala Theertham make Thirukandiyur as Pancha Kamala Kshetram.