Sampangi Pitchaaleeswarar Temple, Arani – Legends
Sampangi Pitchaaleeswarar:
This
temple has an interesting legend attached to it. It is said that this village
had lots of Sampangi (flower) plants all over. A man who owned many cows in
this village, saw one of his cows going alone in the bushes and pouring milk by
its own. Surprised by this act of his cow, the man and few villagers curiously
went and cut the bushes off including a Sampangi plant to see what’s under
bush. To his surprise, he saw a beautiful Shiva Lingam in the ground which was
bleeding as the Axe had hit while cutting off the Sampangi plants.
Guilty
of his act, the man cut his own hand off as he felt he had done an irreversible
sin. The man’s wife pleaded to Lord Shiva and with his blessings the man got
back his hand. Since the Lord evolved from the Sampangi bush and gave the man’s
hand as Bhiksha (alm), He came to be known as Sampangi Pitchaaleeswarar.
Pancha
Brahma Sthalams:
The river Brahma Aranya was believed to have been
created by Lord Brahma. Once when he churned the Arani wood (Arani means fire)
to create fire to start the Yagna for Sage Romesa, fire came out initially but
on churning further, water came out of it and flown as a river. Since this was
created by Lord Brahma from the Arani wood, this is called Brahma Aranya river.
The Brahma Aranya river flows from Andhra Pradesh and
merges with sea at Pazhaverkadu. Many sages have meditated at the banks of this
river and created many temples. Out of these, in five places they have contained
all their meditative powers into Shivalingams and built temples. They are
called Pancha Brahma Sthalams, representing the five faces of Lord Shiva and
they are:
1. Ramagiri alias Thirukaarikarai in Andhra near
Surutapalli/ Nagalapuram representing Ishana face of Lord Shiva
2. Pallikondeswaram alias Surutapalli representing
Tatpurusha face
3. Vamadhevapuram alias Arani near Periyapalayam (not
North Arcot) representing Vamadeva face.
4. Varamoorthy Kshetram alias Ariyathurai representing
Satyojatha face.
5. South Gokarnam alias Chinthamaneeswaram – Kattur near
Minjur, the place where Brahma Aranya river merges with sea representing Aghora
face of Lord Shiva.
All these temples are many thousand years old and since
they have been created by Sages, the base of the lingam (Avudayar) will be in
square shape.
Arani:
The
place Arani got its name as it lies on the banks of Arani river which was known
as Brahmaranya River in ancient days.
Rishis worshipped with Sampangi Flowers:
Rishis
worshipped with Sampangi flowers and attained their wishes.
