Ilamkovil Sakalabhuvaneswarar Temple, Tirumeeyachur –
Legends
Meeyachur:
Many of us know that Aruna is the charioteer of Sun. His
story lies in Tirumeeyachur. Sage Kashyapa had two wives, Vinatha and Karthru. Both
prayed to Lord Shiva for a child. Shiva gave two eggs to them. Of Vinatha’s
egg, Garuda was born. As nothing came out of the egg of Karthru, in haste, she
broke the egg and found a deformed child. She begged to Lord Shiva for her
hasty act. Lord was all merciful and told her that the child would be
charioteer of Sun’s Ratha drawn by 7 while horses and the dawn of the day would
be called Arunodaya after his name Aruna.
Aruna was a staunch Shiva devotee and performed penance
to have his darshan. Sun mocked at him saying that how a person with deformities
can perform penance. Yet Aruna did not lose heart and continued the penance.
While gracing Aruna, Lord Shiva cursed Sun for ridiculing Aruna. Sun lost his
radiance and made amends by worshipping Shiva and Mother placing them on an
elephant. Representing this story, the sanctum sanctorum of the temple is in
the Gajabrushta (back side of an elephant) form. Shiva graces in the name of
Meganatha here. There are three Kalasas (pots) on the Vimana. As Sun regained
his radiance, the place is known as Meeyachur.
Pirandai
Rice Nivedhana:
Some types conches are born in the sea once in 100 years
having the power to ensure longevity. Lord Yama gathered 1008 such conches and
performed abishek to Lord Shiva. Yama is the authority for Sadaya star. He
prepared rice Nivedhana (offering food to God) with a creeper called Pirandai
to Lord Meganatha.
Birthplace
for Garuda, Aruna, Vali, Sukriva, Saneeswara and Yama:
This is the place where Garuda (the eagle vehicle of
Lord Vishnu), Aruna the charioteer of Sun, the monkey brothers Vali and
Sukriva, Yama the God of Death, Saturn planet were born.
Lalitha
Sahasranamam:
Demon Pandasura was harassing the Devas in the celestial
world. They prayed to Mother Parasakthi to protect them from the Demon. Goddess
appeared from the Yagna fire with her Srichakkram Chariot with the name
Lalithambika. She was too furious after killing the demon. Lord Shiva advised
Devi to go to Earth as Sripuravasini and perform penance to quell her fury. Mother
Lalithambika came to this place, performed penance and became calm and
graceful. She created Vachinya and other angels of words and asked them to
chant her 1000 names. This is how Sri Lalitha Sahasranamam with the beginning
"Sri Mathre" came into being.
