Kumarakottam Temple, Kanchipuram – Legends
Lord Muruga correcting Kachiappar’s Kandha Puranam by
himself:
In this
temple, the sacred Kanda
Puranam in praise of Lord
Muruga was composed by the saintly scholar Kachiappa Sivachariyar. According to the account of Kachiappa, each day he
would write his inspired account of the career of Lord Murugan or Skanda, and
in the evening deposit his day's work in the Mulasthanam of Lord Subrahmanya at
Kumara Kottam. Each night, miraculously, the Lord himself would modify
Kacciappa's manuscript with his own corrections. Hence, the Kanda Puranam is
considered to be the absolutely authoritative account of Lord Murugan's career
bearing the seal of approval of none other than the Lord himself. Kandapuranam
was staged here in a Mandapam which is in good condition even today (It belongs
to the 11th century).
Lord Muruga imprisoning Brahma:
Brahma,
who was returning from Kailash after worshipping the Lord there, passed by Lord
Muruga on the way and ignored him as if he had not seen him. This enraged
Muruga who enquired Brahma his name, whereabouts and his occupation and his
knowledge of books. Brahman introduced himself and said that his (Lord
Muruga’s) father had taught him all arts an ordained him to create the world
and that he was doing that living in Sathyaloka. Lord Muruga accepted it and
asked Brahma the ‘Word’ that precedes all there and the meaning of that word.
Brahma pleaded ignorance and craved for mercy.
Lord
Muruga ordered that Brahma be imprisoned for not knowing the meaning of ‘OM’.
Lord Subramaniyar adorned himself with a garland of Rudhratcha Seeds and with a
Kamandala carried on with the work of creation. In this temple the Moolavar
holds in his hand a garland of Rudhratcha Seeds and Kamandala. In this Kumara
Kottam Temple, Lord Muruga installed himself in the sanctum in the 'Creator' (Brahmasasta) form.
Muruga worshipped Shiva to get rid of his sin by
imprisoning Brahma:
The
extension of the legend above states that Lord Shiva ordered Murugan to release
Brahma. Murugan worshiped Shiva Linga to get rid of his sin of punishing
Brahma. Linga is found in the temple in the name of Senapateeswarar.
Murugan guiding Pamban Swamigal to Kumarakottam:
A 20th
century period scholar named Pamban Swamigal came to Kanchipuram. When he could
not find out the location of Kumara Kottam temple, it is said that Lord Murugan
himself took the form of a boy and guided the saint to this temple.
Story behind Vishnu Shrine next to Murugan Shrine:
There is
also a little known legend associated with Vishnu related to this site. When
there was a disastrous flood all over the world, the sage Markandeya swam
through and reached Kanchipuram. The city was the only place which was not
affected by the flood. Lord Vishnu followed the sage and he too reached
Kanchipuram. He bathed in the holy waters of the temple and worshiped Lord
Subramanya of Kumara Kottam temple. As per his request, Lord Subramanya made
him to be present next to his shrine in the same temple. There is a separate
shrine for Vishnu called as Ullam Urugum Perumal in this temple.