Kachabeswarar Temple,
Thirukachur – Legends
Kachabeswarar:
Indra, the King
of Svarga, while riding on the elephant Airavata, came across
Sage Durvasa who offered him a special garland given to him by a
nymph. Indra accepted the gift and placed it on the trunk of the elephant as a
test to prove that he was not an egoistic deva. The flowers on it had a scent
that attracted some bees. Annoyed by the bees, Airavata threw the garland on
the ground. This enraged the sage as the garland was a dwelling of Lakshmi (fortune)
and was to be treated as a prasada or religious offering.
Durvasa cursed Indra and all
devas to be bereft of all strength, energy, and fortune. In battles following
the incident, the Devas were defeated and the Asuras, led by Bali,
gained control over the universe. The Devas sought Lord Vishnu's help, who
advised them to treat the Asuras in a diplomatic manner. The Devas formed an
alliance with the Asuras to jointly churn the ocean for the nectar of
immortality and to share it among themselves.
However, Vishnu told the devas
that he would arrange for them alone to obtain the nectar. During the churning of the Ocean of Milk (Samudra
Manthana), Mount Mandara was used as the churning rod, and Vasuki, a
Nagaraja who abides on Lord Shiva's neck, became the churning rope. When the mountain was placed in the ocean, it
began to sink. Vishnu, in the form of Kachaba (turtle), came to their
rescue and supported the mountain on his shell.
Before taking the Kachaba
form, he came here and prayed to Lord Shiva at this
temple to give him the strength to withstand the hill on his shell,
till the churning is complete. Lord Shiva blessed Lord Vishnu with the strength
to withstand the weight of the hill. As Lord Vishnu worshipped Lord Shiva in
the form of turtle, Lord Shiva came to be called as Kachabeswarar and the
place came to be called as Kachabavoor.
Later got corrupted to Kachur.
Irandheeswarar
& Virundeeswarar:
As per legend, Saint Sundarar
after visiting Thirukazhukundram
came to Thirukachur
during his pilgrimage in Thondai Nadu. Sundarar and his followers were
extremely tired and hungry due to the long arduous journey. They decided to
take rest for some time in the 16 pillared mandapam near the temple tank. The
mandapam where Sundarar and his followers took rest can still be seen. Seeing
their plight, Lord Shiva under the disguise of elderly brahmin man appeared
before them and assured them of food.
Further, he advised them to wait
for some time so that he could bring food to them. The elderly brahmin man
wandered begging through the streets of Thirukachur
for alms and gathered food, came back and fed Sundarar and his followers. Sundarar
searched for the old man after he finished his food and he could not able to
find him. He realized that the old man is none other than Lord Shiva himself.
Sundarar rendered a pathigam with the line “Mudhu Vai Ori Kadhara” exclaiming
his shock and grief that Lord Shiva took the form of a beggar in order to feed
them.
As Lord Shiva wandered begging for
alms for feeding Sundarar, he came to be called as Irandheeswarar (Irandhu
means begging for alms in Tamil). There is a shrine for Irandheeswarar outside the
temple at a short distance from the
temple. As Lord Shiva fed the hungry Sundarar and his followers, he came to
be called as Virundeeswarar (Virundhu means feast), There is a shrine for Virundeeswarar at the
northern prakaram of this
temple.
Nadana Vinodha Nallur:
It is
said that Thyagaraja (Utsava Idol) performs 18 forms of celestial dance called
Amirtha Thandavam during Brahmotsavam. This dance was believed to have been performed
by Lord Shiva as per the wish of Lord Vishnu, after the gods churned out the
Amirtha from the Parkadal. Hence, this
place came to be called as Nadana Vinodha Nallur (Nadana means dance in Tamil). This
Temple is considered as one of the Ubhaya Vidanga Sthalams.
Aalakoil
Udayar:
As per legend, Lord Shiva drank
the poison for saving the world from destruction. The poison was held in his
throat by the intervention of Parvathy. As he drank poison (Aalam means poison
in Tamil), he came to be called as Aalakoil Udaiyar.
Aala
Koil:
Sthala Vriksham of this temple
is Kallala Maram (Banyan tree). Hence, the
temple came to be called as Aala Koil (banyan tree temple).
Sanaka
and Sanakadi worshipped Lord Shiva here:
It is said that sages Sanka and
Sanakadi worshipped Lord Shiva of this
temple.