Chidambaram is one of the many temple towns in the state which is named after the grooves, clusters or forests dominated by a particular variety of a tree or shrub and the same variety of tree or shrub sheltering the presiding deity. The town used to be called Thillai, following Thillaivanam, derived from the mangrove of Tillai trees (Exocoeria agallocha) that grow here and the nearby Pichavaram wetlands. As per Hindu legend, once Shiva and Parvati wanted to judge who among them was a better dancer and wanted their sons Vinayaka and Murugan to judge. Both of them judged in favour of Paravati, after which Shiva was not satisfied. He wanted Brahma to judge and the competition was held in Thiruvalangadu. Brahma was still not satisfied and he wanted Vishnu to judge who wanted the competition in Tillaivanam. Shiva performed the Urthvathandavam pose of picking ear ring with legs and wearing them in the ear with his legs. Parvathi was not able to perform the feat and became Kali at Thillai Kali temple.