Agniswarar Temple, Kanjanur - Legends
Kalathira Dosha Parihara Sthalam:
During Vamana Avatharam, when lord Vishnu took the form
of a Short Brahmin asked Bali for three steps of land, Asura Guru Shukracharya
had doubts about the Short Brahmin. When Bali ignored his advice, he took the
form of a bee and hid in the mouth of the Kamandalam from which Bali would pour
water to donate the three steps of land. When water did not flow from the
kamandalam, Vishnu in the form of Vamana Avataram pricked Shukracharya with a
Darbhai grass sue to which he lost an eye, and had to come out. At the
appropriate time, having had his wish, Vamana took his huge form of Avatharam
and measured out of the land and the sky, and as the 3rd step, placed his foot
on Bali, blessing him.
Shukracharya however was angry with Vishnu, and cursed
him. It is believed that Vishnu prayed to Shiva at Kanjanur, where he was
relieved of the curse. Shiva not only blessed Vishnu here, he promised to
remain and bless those who came with prayers to Shukran his favour. There is no
idol or image of Shukran at Kanjanur. It is Shiva himself who takes the
position of Shukran here. Kanjanur is the temple for performing "Kalathira Dosha Pariharam" for
lord sukiran.
Lord Shukran is offered white Lotus, white cloth, Mochai
Kottai (common bean) and Athi (fig) to alleviate problems caused by Sukra
dosham. Friday is the day of Shukran and worship on Fridays is considered very
special. Images of Agniswarar and Karbakambal are also seen in the Varadarajar
Temple at Kanjanur.
Stories related to Sages:
Brhamma is said to have been blessed with a vision of
Shiva's marriage with Parvati here. Legend is that Siva blessed Parasara muni
(sage) here with cosmic dance. At the bank of the river Ganges, Sages like
Sounagar started the holy sacrifice namely sathrayaagam. Mahapouraanigar soothamaamunivar
take abode, after the completion of the twelve years holy sacrifices.
Sounakaathi saints served and worshipped him. They welcomed and enjoyed with
him by saying that he is the one who is able to make the earth get rid of all
the sins and they also declared that the place become very sacred after his
arrival.
Immediately, Soothamaha sage looked at them and said
them that there is a specialized place better that this Ganges River near Vada Cauvery
which removes all the sins and provides luxurious life.
This Cauvery river flows as Uththaravaahini in the
sacred place called Kamsapuram. This shrine is the chief of the entire Shiva
temple and it is represented as Punnaagavanam in Kritha yugam, Kathalivanam in
Thretha yugam, Vilvavanam in Dvapara yugam and Palaasavanam in Kaliyugam.
Nivarthi
Sthalam for Disease & Sin:
The outstanding traits of this temple are that the
Paranoia condition of Parasara saint had been cured, Albinism disease of Agni
God had been cured, Kamsarajan had been cured from all his diseases,
Chandhiran, Sithirasenan, Indiran had been relieved from all their sins, the
hunter Kalakandan attained his heavenly bliss, gods like Vishnu had got
comforted from Shukradhosha and achieved luxurious life. The holy sacrifice
that is done per day in this temple is equal to the thousand Sathrayagya.
Haraththar's
Story:
Once upon a time, there was a war between Devas and
Asuras. As Asuras had fear over Mahavishnu, they stayed in the Ashram of their
Ancestry guru named Shukracharya. As soon as Shukra had gone out, Vishnu came
to the ashram and chased out the Asuras. He actuated his chakra's to kill them.
The chakra also killed Shukra's wife Sukeerthi along with Asuras. Shukra Bhagavan
came there and makes the entire dead person's alive, and he cursed Vishnu to be
born on earth as he had killed the people who had got fear about the war as
well as his wife who had not even involved in the war. Mahavishnu thought of
fulfilling the curse to do good things on earth with the blessings of Lord
Shiva.
Then, there were Vainava's who born in Kamsapuram with
fourteen Kothiras. They stated that Mahavishnu is everything by Vedas and they
disrupt Shiva devotees and Shiva Festivities. Vishnuvanavar decided to teach
lesson to them and he born as a son for Vasudevar, who is a panjarathira Vainavar.
He was named as Sutharsanar and when he started to talk, he said
"Shivashiva". After started walking, he went to Agneeshwarar temple.
His father admonished him many times, but again he went along with Shiva
devotee in addition to this, he put tilak and rounded along the Agneeshwarar
temple. But, his father did Ubanayam at proper age and also performed Gayathri Mandhira
Ubadesam. He also said to Sutharsanar that he should tell Narayana Namam along
with Gayathri. He also asserted to go Varadharaja Temple.
But, by that noon Sutharsanar went to Agneeshwarar
temple and did Maathiyanigam in Agni Theertha along with Gayathri Mandhra and
Panjatcharam other than this he also worshipped Lord Shiva and Karbakambal. His
father Vasudevacharyar got anger and threw him out from home. So, he reached
Agneeshwarar temple and heard Shivanama parayanangal. Soon, he slept. At
midnight, Agneeshwarar appeared as Dhakshinamoorthy before the little boy
Sutharsanar and made him to know all the Myths and Ithihasas in addition to
this he also named him as Haratattar.
After getting all the knowledge, Haratattar took
purifactory bath in Cauvery in the morning and went to his house. He wore Viboothi
and Ruthiraksham and stated Shiva is everything by Vedas and Shastras. Vasudeva
didn't accept his debate and decided to kill him. So, he asked him to prove it
by standing in the fired iron pedestal. Haratattar also accepted and stood in
the fired iron pedestal and said Shivaparathuvam before many scholars, pundits
and Saiva Vainava Followers. At that time, Agneeshwarar along with
Karpagambigai appeared before Haratattar.
After few years, Haratattar was married with a girl
named Pangajavalli, who is a daughter of Supratheepar. They both give birth to
9 Childrens namely Mahadeva, Neelakandar, Sankarar, Chandrashekarar,
Saambashivan, Mahalingam, Komuktheesan, Karpagam and Meenakshi. He daily took
purifactory bath two times in Cauvery River and also performs panjatcharajabam
and Shiva pooja. He decided to make everyone to know about the greatness of
Lord Shiva. So, he did many Miracles.
There was a Older Brahmin named Devasambu in this
temple. Once, he carried bunch of Grasses to his cow. Unfortunately, the tied
bunch of Grass fell over the calf and it was dead. Devasambu stunned and
shouted as Shivashiva. He felt very bad for killing the calf. So, he asked
solution to Vedhiyars to get rid from Kohathi Dosha. They asked him to take
purifactory bath in Ganges River and will not be able to go to Ganga. He was
very poor and so he asked solution to Haratattar. He stated that it was not a
sin as you did it unfortunately and when you had shouted as Shivashiva, you had
got rid from it. The calf also got Narkathi as it had heard Shivashiva while
being dead. But, Vedhiyars didn't accept this. But, Haratattar asked Devasambu
to give a grip of grass to Nandikesvarar. Devasambu did as he said and
astonishingly, Nandikesvara ate that Grass. From that day, Nandikesvarar has also
been called as "Pullunda Nandhi".
Gangadhara is the son of Haraththar’s sister. His leg is
abnormal from his birth and he has a wish of going to Ganges River. Haratattar
came to know about his wish and so he asked him to get dipped in Cauvery.
Gangadhara also did it as per his words and surprisingly, he arose in Ganga. He
felt very happy and worshipped Vishwanatha and Visalakshi. After few days,
Gangadhara decided to return to his hometown, but he feared as he doesn't know
the way. On that Occasion, a Shiva Munivar arose there with suryaprakasam. He
asked the way to that saint to reach his town. The saint preached Gangadhara
about panjaksharam and asked him to dip in Ganga and arose in Cauvery. Then the
saint disappeared when he started worshipping him. He astonished and later he
dipped in Ganga and aroused in Cauvery.
After reaching Kanjanoor, Gangadhara worshipped
Agneeshwarar and as per the words of Haratattar, he developed a Theertha on the
southwestern side and named it as Manikarnigai. He also built a temple for
Vishwanathar and Visalakshi. Along with this he also built parivaram for
Vinayagar, Subramaniyar and separate Sannidhi for Suyamprakashmoorthy, who
preached Panjaksharam for him. He lived for many years and on a day of
Akshayathiruthi, he reached Sivaloka by getting the blessings from
Suyamprakashmoorthy. In earlier days, people have the habit of adding
Sheekaikai with porridge. Haratattar took that Sheekaikai mixed with porridge
to take purifactory bath in Cauvery. At that time, Agneeshwarar appeared as an
old Shiva devotee and told to Haratattar that he is in hungry. Suddenly,
Haratattar gave that porridge to that Shiva devotee.
Haratattar returned his home, after taking purifactory
bath and he felt very bad for giving it with Sheekaikai without remembering.
Haratattar prayed whole heartedly for his health to Lord Shiva.
Shivalingabupathi is a king who does Nivedhanas and Annadhanam in Shiva poojas.
Shiva appeared in the dream of Shivalingabupathi and said that his Nivedhanas
and Annadhanam won't get equal to Haraththar’s porridge. From that day, the
king became the disciple of Haratattar. Just like this, Haratattar had done
many miracles towards people to make them understand about the Panjatcharam. He
reached Heaven on a panjami day in Thai month by seeing the Agneeshwarar who
appeared as a Rishabaroodar along with Karbakambal, Vinayagar, Subramaniyar and
Sandikeswarar.
Greatness
of Karpaga Vinayagar:
There was an old woman named Karpaganatchiyar in this
temple. She had the habit of doing Modaka to Vinayagar daily. But on the day of
Thai Panjami, the day when Haratattar reached Kailayam, due to the assay of
Vinayagar the Modaka took late to get finished.
So, she prayed Vinayagar with repentance. So, he took
that old lady with his trunk and kept her in Kailayam and from that day
Vinayagar is called as Karpaga Vinayagar.
Lord
Shukran:
Shukra is the 6thGraha in Grahamandalam. He is named as
Bargavan as he is a son of Piragu Saint, who is a manasaputhirar of Brahma
Deva. He is also called as Kavi.
Shukrabhagvan is an outstanding Shiva Devotee. With the
blessings of Shiva, he had learnt the Manthras named Amirthasanjeevini to give
life to the dead persons. He is silver in color and subar of Graha. He will be
in a Garuda vahana at Ayingonamandalam with Venpattadai and will be seated in a
Venthamarai. Mudalai vahana is also there. As he is guru of Asura, he is often
called as Shukracharya. In graham mandala, in the east of sun, he shows his
Thirumugham towards east. In Suriyamandalam, in the north of sun, he shows his
Thirumugham towards north. He is the athipathi of Rishaba thula rasi and he is
for Bharani, Pooram, and Pooradam Natchathras. Shukra direction will be for 20
years. He will attain uchcham in Meenaraasi and will attain Neecham in Kanni
rasi. He will stay at least one month in a sign.
For Shukrabhagvan, Mithra – Mercury, Saturn, Sathru –
Sun, Moon, Saman – Venus, Jupiter, Metal – Silver, Stone – Diamond, Grain –
Vall beans, Samiththu – Figs, High Angel – Indirani, Prathiyathi, Angel –
Indiran.
In Kosaram, he will give comfort to 1, 2,3,4,5,8,9,11,12
and discomfort in 6,7,10. Shukra Bhagavan is a kalathirakaragan. He will give
comfort to all. He is the one who help in getting job opportunity, doing
business, marriage, vehicle, perfumes, Grammar and for writing poems.
He make every people to get relieved from delayed
marriages, Couple disharmony, Loss in Industry, Vehicle and Business, including
Brain and Eye related problems. In this temple, Lord Shiva who made the Devas
to get rid from Shukra Dosha has separate Sannathi along with Parvathi to the
south of Agniswarar Sannathi. He is praised as "Imavaanthan Pethaiyoduinithiruntha
Perumaan" by Thirunavukarasar. The people, who worship him will get
relieve from Shukra dhosha and will get wealth and prosperous life.