How Lord Shiva Danced at Thiruvalankadu and Defeated Goddess Kali

Of the five assemblies where Lord Shiva is said to have danced, the first is at Thiruvalankadu vadaaranyeswarar (திருவாலங்காடு வடாரண்யேஸ்வரர் )temple and is called 'Ratna Sabhai'. In this temple, it is customary to give 'tirtham' like in other Vishnu temples. This is to commemorate Shiva reviving the devas with the water from the Ganges on his matted head when they had swooned due to the unbearble heat caused at the dance contest between Shiva and Kali.

As the name suggests, Thiruvalankadu was a banyan forest where two demons Sumbha and Nisumbha were harrassing the Devas. The Devas prayed to Mother Parvathi to protect them, and She created a furious Kali who destroyed the demons. Kali consumed the blood of the demons and their army and grew more fierce. To appease her, Lord Shiva reached the place. Kali challenged the Lord for a dance and said that she would give her territorial rights if Shiva won. The dance began. Lord drops His ear ring on the ground, picks it by the toe of His right leg and fixes it back on His ear in the dance. Out of modesty, Kali doesn't replicate this "Urdhvatandava" step and accepts her defeat. Lord Shiva said that that those coming to worship Him here, should worship Her first to reap the full benefit of the worship.

It is in this temple that the Great Shiva devotee Karaikal Ammayar reached by walking on her head as she did not want to defile the holy place by walking on foot.

The Thiruppugazh songs in which the reference to the dance occurs:
Talaivali marutheedu (தலைவலி மருத்தீடு)
Kadavinidai Veeram ('விடாது நடநாளும் பிடாரியுடனாடும் வியாகரண ஈசன்')
vetha veRpilE(வேத வெற்பிலே)