The Presiding Deity here is Lord Shiva and the Goddess is Kamakshi. This Temple is alleged to have been built by a trader of the Pandya Kingdom 500 years ago. The person in charge of this hill Temple now Maha Ananda Siddhar was born in Dharmapuri  area  on 6th December 1930, and was engaged in turmeric trade.  As a  Devotee of Siva, he undertook the renovation of many Temples in Tamil Nadu and performed Annadanam.  At Lokuvakulam Bharadwajiswarar Temple of Kalahasti, where he was feeding the Devotees, he is said to have received a message asking him to go to Mahadeva Malai and live in a cave there, worship Shiva and protect the Devotees.  Mahananda Siddhar as he is called is living the life of a recluse and locals say he does not eat food nor drink water.  He has built  steps for the Devotees to climb the hill top.  The Temple has a Sacred Tank with neatly built steps for the sake of the Devotees to take a holy dip.  On all 4 sides of the Pushkarani 4 watch towers or Gopuram have been built.  The Sacred Tank has a Vasantha Mandapam built in the middle of the Pushkarani and this has been painted in golden colour.  A Huge Thirusoolam measuring more than 35 feet and painted in yellow colour adds attraction to the Temple.  The Temple has a Chariot and a few Palanquins.   On entering the Temple there is a Sub Shrine for Navagraham.  The peculiarity hee is that all the Navagraham are found with their Vahanams.  Close to the Car Park there are gorgeously painted and colourful Idols of the Dasavatharams along with Maha Vishnu, Shiva, Brahmma and several other Gods.  A glitering Dwajasthambam and a huge grey coloured Nandhi is found next to it.   From the basement right till we reach the Temple top there are dozens of Vinayaka Idols kept everywhere.  Midway to the Temple there is an artificial pond where a few ducks and ducklings are kept as an amusement for the kids and Devotees.  Close to the artificial pond a huge Anjaneya Swamy Statue is installed and He is around 6 feet tall and eye captivating.  On reaching the Templetop there is a Shrine and inside the Sanctum Sanctorum God Mahadeva Swamy is found as a Shiva Lingam and this is believed to be a Swayambhu Lingam.  There are Sub Shrines for Selva Vinayagar, Valli Devasena Samedha Subramaniar, Surya Bhagwan and Saneeswaran.  Likewise an Image of Goddess Kamakshi has benn drawn and kept in a Sub Shrine.  There is a mandapam here where mini functions to be conducted.  They do have a Temple Kitchen and free Annadhanam is given to all Devotees.  The Ghoshala comprises of several cattles including a horse.  Recently a Motorable Ghat Road has also been built and 2 and 4 wheelers can reach this Temple with effortless ease. The picturesque ambience, in which the Temple is located attracts not only Devotees but also several tourists from Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh too. The steps of the Temple are too steep and the sick and elderly may find it very tough to make it to the Temple top. 

Contact Details: Gangadhara Gurukkal - 96266 17680, Badri Gurukkal - 70106 95094,  Vinod Kumar - 88384 58910,  088076 08835, 97385 91372 and 90899 97440

Temple Timings: 7-30 AM  to 5-30 PM This Temple does not close during afternoon.

Distance from Chennai to Mahadevamalai, Kanguppam is 165 Kms

For any Suggestions in the Website: T.Ragavachari - 98411 40126