Tiruvalanchuzhi Valanchuzhinathar Temple, Swamimalai –
Legends
Indra making Ganesha Idol from Sea Foam:
According
to the legend, the story of churning the milk ocean to get nectar with Mandara
mount as the churning stick (Mathu in Tamil) and Vasuki snake as the churning
rope is popular among Hindu believers. Unable to bear the speed and
weight during this operation, Vasuki spit its venom threatening total
destruction of all worlds. Devas surrendered to Lord Shiva.
He said
that they began the work without worshipping Lord Vinayaka and advised them to
correct the error. Devas returned to milk ocean, made an idol of Lord
Vinayaka with ocean foam and prayed to him and succeeded, thus goes the Sthala
Purana. Vinayaka thus made of the foam is praised as Swetha
Vinayaka. He is the Ishta Devatha of the Devas.
Sage Durvasa’s Yagna:
It is
believed that Sage Durvasa once performed a yagna here, and 22 Maharshis who
attended the yagna installed lingams that they prayed to, in this temple. Thus,
there are several lingams in this temple, associated with several sages.
Thiruvalanchuzhi - Etymology:
According
to the legend, with the graceful blessings of Lord Swetha Vinayaka, Mother
Cauvery River began to flow towards Chola region from the Kamandalam of Sage
Agasthya. Kamandalam is a pot usually carried by sages. Knowing that
Mother Cauvery is flowing towards his kingdom, Chola king Haridwajan went with
his men to receive her with all honors. While entering this place,
respectfully called Shakti Vanam, She circumambulated Lord Shiva (Valam
Varudhal in Tamil) and entered through a hole (Piladwara in Sanskrit) in the
northeast (Easanya direction).
Despite
all efforts, the king could not bring out Cauvery. He surrendered at the
feet of Sage Heranda performing penance in Kottayur. The sage came to Thiruvalanchuzhi
and prayed to Lord Shiva.
Lord Shiva through his voice (Asareeri in Tamil
and Sanskrit) said that Cauvery would not come out unless a sage with
Jadamudi-thick and long hair- or a king with such Jada entered into the
hole. The king was ready to do this. But the sage himself entered
the hole and made Mother Cauvery come out to benefit a huge number of people in
the state. Mother Cauvery came out from the hole at a place called
Melacauvery near Kumbakonam. As Cauvery came up, the place is named
Melacauvery and Tiruvalanchuzhi as She came circumambulating Lord
Shiva. The river re-appeared, and flowed in a semi-circle around the
temple. Since the river curves towards the right, this place came to be known
as Thiruvalanchuzhi (twisting to the right).
Indra’s relief from curse due to wrong behaviour towards
Agalya:
Devendra
(Indira) came down to earth with Swetha Vinayaka seeking relief from the curse
caused by his wrong behaviour towards Agalya. He came to this place
finally after worshipping various Shiva temples. Lord Swetha Vinayaka,
till then with Indira, wished to stay in this place for ever and prayed to Lord
Shiva for the purpose. Lord Shiva came before Indira as a little
boy. Indira asked the boy to keep his Vinayaka till he came back after
worshipping Lord Shiva.
The boy
simply put the Vinayaka on the floor and disappeared. Indira could not
find either the boy or his Vinayaka. He finally found his Vinayaka under
the Bali Peeta in the temple but could not lift despite all his efforts.
Indira brought Deva Shilpi (sculptor of great skills), made a Rath – car
covering the surroundings of the Bali Peeta and tried to pull Vinayaka to his
place, but in vain. A voice said that if Indira worships Vinayaka in this
place on each Vinayaka Chathurthi day (occurring in August-September), he would
reap the benefit of worshipping him each day.
It is
believed that Indira visits the temple on each Vinayaka Chathurthi to worship
Lord Swetha Vinayak. Lord Swetha Vinayaka is made from sea water foam.
Hence, no abishek is offered nor flowers, vastras or sandal placed on
Him. Only powdered Borneol (Pachai Karpooram) is sprayed on the idol
without hand touch.
As Lord
Muruga has 6 army camps – Padai Veedu in Tamil – Lord Vinayaka has 10 such in
India including the one in this Thiru Valanchuzhi temple.
Vinayaga marrying Indiradevi Kamalambal & Buddhi
Devi:
Lord
Vinayaka married here Indiradevi Kamalambal born of the eyes of Lord Maha
Vishnu and Buddhi Devi born of the speech of Lord Brahmma in this sacred place,
hence, those facing obstacles and problems in their marriage efforts worship
Lord Swetha Vinayaka for reliefs.
