Friday, September 15, 2017

Marundeeswarar Temple, Thiruvanmiyur – Legends

Marundeeswarar Temple, Thiruvanmiyur – Legends
Marundeeswarar:
Lord Shiva imparted sage Agastya on curative properties of various herbs and plants. Since then the Marundeeswarar temple has been a place of worship for people with diseases and various problems with their health. Hence is also praised as Marundeeswarar – Marundhu in Tamil means medicine and Easwara God – God of Medicines.
Thiruvalmikiyur:
It is said that even The Sage Valmiki, who wrote The Ramayana, came here to The Marundeeswarar temple to worship Shiva and corrected himself from the ways of his past life as a robber.  Pleased with the sage, Lord Shiva appeared before him under the Vanni tree in the temple.  The place, as requested by the sage, was named after him.  The Vanni tree is in the prakara where Lord granted darshan to Sage Agasthya and Sage Valmiki.
This event forms part during the Panguni Brahmmotsavam in the temple. After this incident, this place was to be known as Thiruvalmikiyur, the name gradually changed to Thiruvanmiyur. There is a place present in Thiruvanmiyur called Valmiki Nagar in his honour. There is also a temple built for Sage Valmiki in the middle of the East Coast Road, very close to the Marundeeswarar temple.
Various Lingams:
The lingam for which Hanuman performed pooja, The lingam (Meenakshi Sundareswarar) that cured the curse of Indra, the Lingam for which Saint Bharadhwaja performed pooja are present here. 
Lord facing west:
Appayya Dikshitar, whose original works and commentaries on our sacred books had enriched the Sanskrit literatures and the spiritual heritage of South during the twentieth century, was unable to have the darshan of Lord due to heavy floods.  He was able to see only the back of Lord.  He said to the Lord, “I came here to worship you with your face, can’t you oblige me.”  Moved by the prayer of Dikshitar, Lord Shiva turned west and granted darshan.  
Paalvanna Nathar:
Recognizing the penance of Sage Vasishta on Lord Shiva, Indira sent his Kamadenu the divine cow with the sage. Once, the cow delayed to pour the milk for puja. The angry sage cursed it to become an ordinary cow losing its divine status. He also suggested the cow to go to this place and worship Lord Shiva under the Vanni tree to recover its divinity. Kamadenu poured the milk on the Lord and got back its original supremacy. Hence, the Lord has the name Paalvanna Nathar. Paal in Tamil means milk. When Sage Valmiki came there to worship Lord Shiva, Kamadenu ran in fear pressing its feet on the head of the Shivalinga, the scar of which is still visible on the presiding deity.
Brahma conducted a festival for Lord Shiva here:
Brahma is believed to have conducted a festival here for Shiva.
People worshipped Lord Shiva here:
It is believed that Suryan worshiped lord Shiva during night, hence important functions are held during night including kodiyetram. Ramar, on his way to Lanka worshipped Shiva, Devas worshipped and so he is known as Vedapureeswarar, Moon God got his curse cleared off by worshipping Shiva here and Sage Brinki (in whose name Paranki Malai has come up) worshipped Shiva. Markandeya performed a penance and prayed to Shiva here. Lord Shiva gave Dharshan to Markandeya under the Vanni Tree.
Lord Shiva danced before Sage Valmiki here:
Lord Shiva danced before Sage Valmiki during Panguni full moon day.
Replica of Thiruvarur Thyagaraja:
Thyagaraja of Tiruvarur is said to have been worshipped by Mahavishnu and Indra the King of Gods. Seven shrines associated with Thyagarajar in Tamilnadu are known as the Sapta Vitanka Sthalams. Three replicas of Thyagarajar are found at Thiruvanmiyur, Thiruvotriyur and Thirukkachur.