Friday, November 10, 2017

Narthana Vallabeswarar Temple, Thirukoodalaiyathoor – Legends

Narthana Vallabeswarar Temple, Thirukoodalaiyathoor – Legends
Lord Shiva directing Sundarar to this Temple:
As per Hindu legend, Sundarar, while traveling to Vriddhagiriswarar Temple, Vridhachalam forgot this place and asked about the way to the Vriddhagiriswarar temple to a saint who was going in front of him. The saint directed him to the Koodalaiytrur temple. Sundarar on reaching the temple realized that the saint was none other than Shiva himself. Sundarar has made a mention of the event, calling the deity as Narthana Vallabeswarar.
Place to pray for learning and memory:
Many students suffer from lack of memory power and are unable to shine in classes. It is said that even great souls as Sage Agasthya prayed in this shrine for memory boon. Parents are advised to bring their children and make them pray seeking memory power. The temple is considered to be a suitable place to pray for learning and memory.
Nardana Vallabeswarar:
The place has the reputation of the visit of Goddess of Wisdom Saraswathi with her Lord Brahmma. They prayed here and had the Nardana Darshan (dancing) of Lord Shiva, hence the presiding deity is praised as Nardana Vallabeswarar.  
Dakshina Prayag:
The place is revered as Dakshina Prayag as Manimutharu and Vellaru rivers confluence here. It flows similar to Prayag from south to north.
Mahalakshmi grew here during Varaha Avathaar of Vishnu:
Sage Agasthya had a son named Karthyanan. He also became a great Rishi as his father. Agasthya prayed for a daughter. The sage found a girl child playing on the Lotus leaves in Manimutharu river, took the child and brought her up naming Ambujavalli. Lord Shiva informed her that she was incarnation of Mother Mahalakshmi. When Lord Vishnu took the Varaha Avatar, He saw his consort Mahalakshmi as Ambujavalli and had her hands in marriage. There is a shrine for Lord Vishnu in the Temple.
Chola King got relieved of Brahmahatti Dosha here:
A Chola king suspected the fidelity of his wife and killed her and thus incurred the Brahmahatti Dosha – the impact of sin of murder. He wandered here and there as a lunatic. He saw one day a dog with skin diseases following him. It fell in a river and came back healthy and beautiful. The king too followed the dog’s example and got his relief.  He also got back his kingdom and built this temple on the banks of the confluence of the two rivers and named the place Tiru Koodalai Attrur meaning the confluence of the rivers. Later this temple was dilapidated and idols were lost. Mother Goddess appeared in the dream of the priest and told him of her presence in the river. The priest discovered the idols and built the present temple.
Thiruveni Sangamam:
Koodalaiytrur is on the confluence of rivers Vellaru, Manimutharu and Akaya Ganges (an invisible river), hence the place is known as Koodalaiytrur and “Thiruveni Sangamam”.
Sages Vanmiki & Kanva visited this Temple:
It is also believed that Sages Vanmiki and Kanva visited this temple and worshiped the lord.