The famous mInAkshi sun^dharEshwarar temple has the Silver Hall (veLLI ambalam).
This is in front of the sun^dharEshwarar sanctum sanctorum, facing south.
Lord Shiva came as rAja saun^dhara pAndiyan to marry mInAkshi
who was the daughter of pANdiya king malayadhvajan. For attending the marriage among all
saints, kings and others, pathanychalai and vyAgrapAdha also came. They take food only after
having the dharshan of the Lord's dance in chithambaram. So the Lord Shiva danced in the Silver
Hall in Madurai fulfilling the determination of the two great saints. This is described in the
veLLiyambalth thirukkUththAdiya padalam of thiruviLaiyAdalpurANam
Among the pAndiya kings who ruled from Madurai, rajashEkaran was a great devotee.
He learnt 63 arts out of 64 great and didn't want to learn dancing due to his devotion on the
dancing Lord. But when a poet sung in his court that the chozA king knew the 64 arts whereas
rAjashEkara knew one less, he thought if he didn't learn dance, it might go as a black mark for
the country. So he started learning it. When he was trying to do the posture of Lord naTarAjar,
he felt very difficult. In the greatness of his love he thought, if he is not able to stand
in that posture for even short time, how difficult it would be for naTarAja to stand in that
posture for centuries. He went to the Silver Hall, and prayed the Lord to change His feet so that
it will be comfortable for Him. But since the Lord didn't respond he took his sword and tried to
cut his head off. Appreciating his devotion the Lord changed His leg in the dancing posture. Only
in this temple Lord naTarAjar stands on His left leg with the right raised. This love of king
rAjashEkara is described in the kAlmARI Adiya padalam of thiruviLaiyAdalpurANam
