Tuesday, June 20, 2017

Vaimoornathar Temple, Tiruvaimur – Legends

Vaimoornathar Temple, Tiruvaimur – Legends
Saptha Vidanga Sthalams:
Muchukunda Chakravarthy was a great and valorous Chola king. He was once approached by Indra for help during the war between Devas and Asuras. Muchukunda gladly agreed to help the lord of the Devas, and joined in the war. Finally, with Muchukunda’s aid, the Devas succeeded in routing the Asuras, and Indra was extremely grateful to the king. He offered the king a gift of his choice and Muchukunda asked for the Thyagarajar Moorthy worshipped by Indra. Indra was perplexed by this request as he did not want to part off with his precious moorthy, but the king wouldn’t accept anything else.
He finally decided on a deception, so he ordered to make six similar moorthis and asked Muchukunda to find out the one he wanted. Muchukunda was a smart king, and prayed to Shiva to identify the correct one and found the original moorthy. So Indra gave him all the seven moorthis to Muchukunda. Muchukunda kept those moorthis in seven temples which are called Saptha (seven) Vidanga temples. Muchukunda returned to earth with the seven Thyagarajar moorthis and installed them at various places in his kingdom.
The original one he kept at the temple at Thiruvarur, and the others at Thirunallar, Vedaranyam, Thiruvaimur, Tirukaravasal, Thirukkuvalai and Nagapattinam. These seven temples are collectively known as Saptha Vidanga Sthalams. Vidanga means something that has not been chiseled out. These seven Thyagarajar moorthy are believed to be divine – not made by chisels.
Appar and Sambandar got darshan of Shiva here:
When Appar was staying at Vedaranyam, Lord Siva appeared to him in his dream and prompted him to visit this temple. Appar followed the route as indicated in the dream by the Lord and was able to reach this temple, when he reached the temple he could not find the Siva Linga and Lord Ganesha led him to the correct place inside the temple. There is an idol of Ganesh with his trunk pointing to the direction of the Lord Siva. Sambandar who was also staying at Vedaranyam eventually followed Appar to this temple. Both Appar and Sambandar were blessed by Lord Shiva by revealing his resplendent divine form in this temple.
Surya worshipped Shiva here:
Surya is said to have worshipped Shiva here (the temple tank here is named Surya Theertham, and the sun’s rays strike the sanctum on the 12th and the 13th of Panguni month.
Leelaahaasyapuram:
Thiruvaimur is known as Leelaahaasyapuram in Sanskrit.
Sambandar got dance darshan of Shiva & Parvathi:
Sambandar got the dance Dharshan of Lord Shiva with Parvathi Devi in this temple.
Prachanda Maarutha Theertham:
Brahma and other Devas afraid of Taarakaasuran became birds, came to this holy place, took bath in the Prachanda Maarutha Theertham to ward off their sins, worshipped the Lord to be relieved from their sins.