Thirumuruganathaswamy Temple, Thirumuruganpoondi – Legends
Vedupari Utsavam:
As per legend, Saint Sundarar, one of the most
celebrated 63 Nayanmars, received valuable gifts from Chera King Cheraman
Perumal for his poetic excellence. Chera King Cheraman Perumal is also one of
the celebrated 63 Nayanmars. Sundarar was travelling in this region with his
gifts. As the night approached, Sundarar decided to take rest in front of a
Vinayaga temple. Lord Shiva wished to listen to his compositions. Hence, Lord
Shiva decided to play with Sundarar. Lord Shiva sent his Bhoodaganas in the
guise of hunters and robbed all the valuable gifts from Sundarar.
On seeing all his gifts were stolen, Sundarar prayed
to Lord Vinayaga to help him recover his gifts. Lord Vinayaga directed him to
this temple. As Sundarar called Vinayagar for help, Lord Vinayaga of this temple came to be called as Koopidu Vinayagar (Koopidu means calling in Tamil).
As directed, Sundarar went to the temple and rendered his pathigams blaming
Lord Shiva for not protecting him from the hunters and demanded immediate
action to help him to get back his robbed gifts. Pleased with his pathigams,
Lord Shiva returned the stolen gifts to him. This event is celebrated as a
festival called Vedupari Utsavam.
There is a separate place in the outer prakaram of the temple called Pon Maraithu Vaitha Idam where Lord Shiva kept the gifts of
Sundarar. Thus, Thirumuruganpoondi is considered as one of the place where Lord
Shiva staged his play (Thiruvilayadal). There are three sculptures at the
entrance of the sanctum on the right side. One of the sculpture represents Lord
Shiva as Veduvan (Hunter) and other two sculptures represents Sundarar in
sadness (after Sundarar lost his gifts given by Cheraman Peruman
with a sorrow in his face) and joyful mood (after Sundarar got back his gifts
with a smile).
Muruganatheswarar /
Thirumuruganathaswamy:
As per legend, Surapadma performed intense penance on
Lord Shiva and got a boon of living for 108 yugas, and reign over the 1008
worlds. He established his capital at a city named Viramahendiram located at
the eastern sea and ruled the world. He attacked the heaven, imprisoned all the
devas, and harassed them. Distraught devas approached Lord Shiva for help.
After knowing their plight, Lord Shiva instructed Lord Murugan to annihilate
Surapadman. Before the start of battle, Lord Murugan sent his messenger
Veerabahu to urge Surapadma to cease his activities but to no avail.
Finally, Lord Murugan declared war on Surapadma and in
the ensuing battle, the army and sons of Surapadma were killed. Unwilling to
concede his defeat, Surapadma retreated to the sea, assuming the form of a
mango tree. Lord Murugan slices the tree in twain, from which emerges a cock
and a peacock. From then on, Lord Murugan started to employ the cock as his
battle standard, and the peacock as his mount. However, for the act of killing
the demon, Lord Murugan incurred the Brahmmahathi dosha.
Lord Murugan approached his father, Lord Shiva at
Kailasha for relief from the Brahmmahathi dosha. Lord Shiva directed him to
install a Shiva Lingam made of sand at Kandamapuri in Kongu Nadu and worship it
for relief. As instructed, Lord Murugan came to this place, hit the earth with his
Vel and created a spring for the worship of Lord Shiva. Then, he installed a
Shiva Lingam, worshipped Lord Shiva and got relieved from the Brahmmahathi
dosha.
The Brahmmahathi which left Lord Murugan is now in
form of a square stone under a neem tree. As Lord Murugan worshipped Lord Shiva
here, Lord Shiva came to be called as Muruganatheswarar / Thirumuruganathaswamy
and the place came to be called as Thirumuruganpoondi. It is said that when
Lord Murugan came to worship his father Lord Shiva, he left his weapon Vel and
his mount peacock outside the temple. Hence, he is seen without his weapon Vel
and his mount peacock in the Murugan shrine.
Pandyan king named Maharadhan
was blessed with twins here:
As per legend, a Pandyan king named Maharadhan was
childless. He came to this temple, took a holy bath in the Shanmuga theertham
and prepared porridge (Payasam in Tamil) with its water with cow milk and sugar
candy and offered it to the Lord Shiva as nivedhana. He also gave it to the
Brahmins. He was blessed with twins.
Pancha Thandava Sthalams:
It is said that Lord Shiva performed five thandavams
at five different places. These places are collectively called as Pancha Thandava Sthalams. It is believed that Lord
Nataraja performed his Brahma Thandavam to Sage Durvasa at this temple. This temple is considered one among the Pancha Thandava Sthalams.
Madhavi Vanam:
As per legend, Sage Durvasa brought the Madhavi tree
(Kurukkathi) from heaven and planted at this place. Hence, the place came to be
called as Madhavi Vanam.
People worshipped Lord Shiva
here:
It is believed that Lord Murugan, Sage Agastya, Sage
Durvasa, Sage Markandeya, Sundarar and Pandyan King Maharadhan had worshipped
Lord Shiva here.
Other Names of
Thirumuruganpoondi:
Thirumuruganpoondi was called as Madhavi Vanam, Mullai
Vanam and Kandamapuri during ancient times.
