> mamandur is kinda' my native place.. my grandma from there..
There is more to Maamandur aka Thoosi maamandur.
The lake you are talking about was originally constructed by Mahendraverman himself (Mahendira paereri). There is one very important inscription of mahendra in one of the cave temples in maamandur. Here, we come to know that he actually wrote a "Urai Nool" for one of the famous book of his times - Kandharva saasthiram or something like that.
He called himself "Nihikamudrikaha" - in his coins it is this title that is engraved. It means " a man who has conquered lust" (Kaama ezhuchigal atravan). Great man !
Our understanding of mahendravarman is largely incomplete. He has not been given the place he deserves. I am eagerly waiting for Dr.Kalaikkovan's Thamizhnattu kudaivaraigal - Part I which will cover all of his temples in great detail