Vaithamanidhi Perumal Temple, Thirukkolur, Thoothukudi
– Legends
Kubera penance on Vishnu to get back Nava Nidhi:
According
to legend, once Kubera went to Mount Kailash to pay his obeisance to Lord
Shiva. There he found Goddess Parvathi seated by the side of Lord Shiva. Kubera
looked at her with an evil intent. Due to his act, Goddess Parvathi became
angry and cursed him to become ugly and to loose Nava Nidhis (nine kinds of Wealth).
Lord
Vishnu got his wealth, thus he was named as ‘Vaithamanidhi Perumal’.
Kubera did penance for the Lord Vishnu to appear before him and pardon him from
the Goddess Parvathi's curse. Kubera sought her pardon but her anger did
not vanish. She told Kubera that he would lose sight in one eye and remain ugly
forever. She further told that he had to perform deep penance for
Lord ‘Vaithamanidhi Perumal’ and regain from him his lost Nidhis
(wealth). Kubera did penance at this place (Thirukkolur) and regained
half of his lost wealth.
"Vaisyantham"
is moving constantly from one place to another in search of money and wealth
and this kind of persons are called "Vaisyaas". Kuberan is said to be
one of Vaisya and his wife is Chitiregai and his vaganams (vehicles) are horse
and parrot. His weapon is Katkam and Garland is Seerakka Maalai. His park is
Saithiratham and the vimanam is Pushpaka Vimaanam. His son is Nalakooparan.
Lord
Vishnu gave the Prathyaksham (darshan) for Kubera in front of all of the
Navanidhis (nine kinds of wealth) protecting the Navanidhis of this sthalam.
Because of this, he his named as "Vaithamanidhi” also named as
"Nishopavithan". This sthalam is also called as "Adharma
Pisunam". It means Dharma wars against the evil (Adharma) and it
permanently stayed in this sthalam for driving away the Adharma.
Vaithamanidhi
perumal stands still here in this sthalam to ride of the Adharma to protect the
wealth which cannot be taken out. This perumal has thirusangu in the left hand
and in the right hand he has thiru Chakkaram by which he destroy the Adharma.
Dharma Gupta penance on Vishnu:
Another
story goes that Dharma Gupta, a Brahmin, was in financial distress not being
able to even feed his children. He invoked the blessings of his Guru Sage
Bharadwaja. The Sage explained to him the reasons for his current state- Dharma
Gupta who had been wealthy in his previous birth had become arrogant and did
not share his wealth with the poor.
The sage
asked Dharma Gupta to proceed to Thiru Kolur to undertake penance in front of
Vaitha Maa Nidhi Perumal. He is said to recover his lost wealth at this place. It
is said that a visit to this temple will help one recover lost wealth. The Lord
here is said to help his devotees in distress.