Thirupparamkunram Murugan Temple – Nakkeerar Shrine
Celebrated Tamil poet laureate in Pandiya’s court,
Nakkeerar came to this sacred place to perform penance for cleansing himself of
the sin of arguing with Lord Shiva in a contest. A leaf in the tank was partially
of fish form and bird form partially. As Nakkeerar saw this strange creature,
his penance was disturbed. A devil (Bhoodam) had already captured 999 such
persons whose concentration was disturbed during Shiva worship. The devil now
took Nakkeerar its captive and made the count to 1000 round.
Poet Nakkeerar sang Tirumurukatrupadai in praise of Lord
Muruga to save all the prisoners of the devil. This is the invocation song in
Pathupattu (10 songs) being the first section of the 18 works of Sangam literature
edited as Pathinenkeezhkanakku.
Lord Muruga appeared before the poet, killed
the devil, and shattered the cave prison with His Vel. The poet expressed his
wish to have a dip in the Holy Ganga to wash of the touch of the devil. Lord
Muruga pounced on a rock with his Vel. Ganga sprang up. Nakkeerar was happy.
This spring, never going dry, is at the top of the hill.
Kasi
Viswanathar-Visalakshi shrine is near this spring facing west. Muruga Shrine is
opposite of this shrine with a place to Nakkeerar. There are sculptures of four
Shivalingas, one Shiva idol, Kasi Viswanatha, Subramaniar, Ambica, Bhairava and
Karpaga Vinayaka. The Panchakshara cave where Nakkeerar was locked up by the
devil and Saravana Poigai are near this shrine.
