was milking an ant hill. When the sage followed the cow, it kicked the anthill under which an image of Linga was found. Following the legend, the image of the Lingam has a mark of hoof. The Lingam is white in colour and ablution is not performed for the presiding deity. The holy cow Kamadhenu milking on an anthill is a common legend associated with most Shiva temples named Pasupatheeswarar, namely the Eswarar worshipped by Pasu, the cow. History There are multiple inscriptions in the temple from the Cholas from the 10th century. The earliest inscription is recorded from the time of Rajaraja I. There are inscriptions from the subsequent kings like Vikrama Chola (1118-35), Rajadhiraja II (1166–1178), Kulothunga III (1178–1218) and Rajaraja III (1216–1256). There are inscriptions indicating donations to the temple from the Vijayanagar Empire. The inscriptions refer the presiding deity as Pasupathy Devan and Pasupatheeswarar, while the village is mentioned as Pandanainallur and Vadanattu Vilathurnattu Pandanallur. In modern times, the temple is maintained and administered by the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department of the Government of Tamil Nadu. The temple has dance traditions specialising in Bharatanatyam. Architecture Pasupatheeswarar temple is located in Pandanallur, a village in the Tamil Nadu state highway SH150, on the Tirupanantal - Vaitheeswarankoil road, in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu. The temple has a five-tiered rajagopuram, the entrance tower and all the shrines of the temple are enclosed in concentric rectangular granite walls. The temple covers an area of close to an . The temple has three prakarams (closed precincts of a temple) and many mandapams (halls). The temple faces east and is entered via the rajagopuram (gateway tower). The presiding deity in the form of lingam is housed in the sanctum. Following the legend, the image of the Lingam has a mark of the cow's hoof. The Lingam is white in colour and ablution is not performed for the presiding deity. The attached hall, the ardhamandapa measures the same width as the sanctum, while its length is twice the sanctum. The ardhamandapa projects towards the east. The Mukhamandapa has a square structure. There are five devakoshtas that cover the exterior walls of the sanctum. The images of Dakshinamurthy and Brahma are the only ones remaining out of the five. The presiding deity of the temple is Pasupatheeswarar, housed in the sanctum. The consort Mangalambiga, is located in a south