near the falls is a fortified temple dedicated to lord shiva, called thr "mahadever kovil". it is three of the twelve "shivalayas", famous for the "shivalaya ottam" during the indian festival of shivaratri. devotees believe lord mahadev lives here as "virabhadra", a fierce incarnation of the lord shiva to kill daksha prajapati, after the death satidevi. there are many old inscriptions in this temple including the one of the pandiya king dated ninth century. this temple is built around a.d. 9th century.