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Friday, July 22, 2016

Kadambanathar Temple, Kadambar Koil, Uthiramerur, Kanchipuram - Legends

Kadambanatha Swamy Temple, Kadambar Koil – Legends

Kadambar Koil:

As per legend, once, two demons named Malayan and Magaran were defeated by Lord Murugan during his war with Soora Padman. Both the demons came here, worshipped Lord Magaraleeswarar of Thirumagaral and attained immense power. They started harassing the sages and people in the region. Sage Kashyapa was performing a Yagna at this place and the demons started disturbing the Yagna. Unable to bear their disturbance, Sage Kashyapa prayed to Kadambanatha Swamy for protection. Lord Shiva sent his son Lord Murugan to destroy the demons.

Lord Murugan successfully annihilated the demons with his Gnana Vel (spear) at Ilayanar Velur and the Yagna was completed without any disturbance. After the annihilation of the demons, Lord Murugan worshipped Lord Shiva on a pradosham day during the Valar Pirai of Tamil month Panguni at this place. This day is celebrated in a grand scale during the Brahmotsavam every year. As Lord Murugan (Kadamban) worshipped Lord Shiva here, Lord Shiva came to be called as Kadambanatha Swamy and the place came to be called as Kadambar Koil.

Kadambar Koil holier than Kasi:

Once, a brahmin named Gunaseelan from Pandyan kingdom died, his son Budhisenan was going to Kasi to immerse his father ash in Ganges as per the wish of his deceased father. He decided to perform Sandhya Vandanam at this place. He kept the pot containing ash in the banks of the Cheyyar river and went to take bath in the river. He smelled fragrance of Jasmine flower from the pot.

He opened the pot and was surprised to find that the bones got changed to Jasmine flowers in the pot. A sacred voice was heard at that time informing that this place was much holier than Kasi and instructed him to immerse the ashes here. As instructed, he immersed the ashes in the Cheyyar river and fulfilled the wishes of his father.  The temple is ideal to perform rituals for ancestors (Pitru).

Mother Parvathi became permanent part of Lord Shiva here:

Mother Parvathi wanted to be with Lord Shiva permanently. To realize her wish, she requested Lord Shiva for the boon. He asked her to worship him at Kadambar Koil to get her wish fulfilled. Mother Parvathi left Kailasha and worshipped Lord Shiva at Kedarnath, Kasi, Thiruvengadam, Kalahasthi, Thiruvalangadu, and Kanchi and eventually to Kadambar Koil. He worshipped Lord Shiva here and her desire for being with Lord Shiva forever got fulfilled.

Uthra Vahini:

The Cheyyar river normally flows west to east but it flows north to south (Uthra Vahini) at this place. Similarly, Ganges also normally flows west to east but in Kasi it flows north to south. Hence, this place is considered equivalent to Kasi.