Vedapuriswarar Temple, Cheyyar
– Legends
Thirugnana Sambandar converting
Male Palm Tree to Female Palm Tree:
During the Nayanmars period, the temple walls were
getting destroyed due to the frequent floods in Cheyyar river as the temple was
situated in the river bank. A Shiva devotee who looked after this temple raised
the banks and planted palm trees to control the flooding of the temple. However,
all the palm trees were male and did not yield any fruits. The Jains laughed at
him and started mocking him by saying that this is the power of Lord Shiva who
couldn’t change the male palm trees into fruit bearing (female) palm trees.
Further, they challenged him that they would convert to Shaivism if their Lord
Shiva change the male palm tree to fruit bearing female palm tree.
Thirugnana Sambandar visited this temple during this
time. The devotee mentioned about the challenge made by Jains to him.
Thirugnana Sambandar sung a Thevara pathigam and surprisingly all the male palm
trees were transformed into female fruit bearing palm trees by the grace of
Lord Shiva. On seeing this miracle, all the Jains in this place converted to
Shaivism. A stone palm tree can be seen in front of the goddess Parvati shrine
in this temple in memory of this event. Also, five fruit bearing female palm
trees can be seen in the prakaram. It is believed that these trees are
descendants of the transformed trees during Sambandar era.
Dakshayani performed penance
here:
As per legend, Dakshayani, daughter of Dakshan and the
granddaughter of Lord Brahma was married to Lord Shiva. Once, when Dakshan was
performing a grand yagna, he intentionally failed to invite Lord Shiva.
Dakshayani felt insulted and decided to visit the Yagna against the wishes of
her husband to get clarification from her father to know the reason behind of
not inviting his husband for the Yagna.
Daksha was arrogant and avoided interacting with Dakshayani.
Further, he humiliated both Dakshayani and Lord Shiva. Dakshayani got furious
and cursed her father that his Yagna would not be successful. She felt bad of
being the daughter of the enemy of Lord Shiva. She decided to perform penance
at Thiruvothur to seek relief from the sin of being the daughter of the enemy
of Lord Shiva.
Nagalingam:
As per legend, when Thirugnana Sambandar visited
Thiruvothur, the Jains conducted a Yagna and sent a poisonous snake to kill
him. However, he redirected the snake back to the leader of the Jains. The
distraught leader of the Jains realized the power of Sambandar and surrendered
to him. Sambandar prayed to Lord Shiva who then appeared in the guise of a
snake charmer and took the snake away. An idol of Nagalingam / Naganathar can
be seen in this temple in memory of this event.
Cheyyatril Vendran:
As per legend,
the Jains invited Thirugnana Sambandar for a contest (Punal Vadham) even
after their failed attempt to kill him. In this contest, the Jains threw Jain
manuscript into the Cheyyar river and was carried away in the river. When
Sambandar threw the Shaivite manuscript, it came back to the shore undamaged.
The place where it reached the shore is called as Cheyyatril Vendran. The Jains
accepted their defeat after this incident.
Nandi facing outside:
As per legend, King Thondaiman of the region was an
ardent of Lord Vedapuriswarar. Once, he was defeated by his rival king Visvavasu.
Due to the humiliating defeat, Thondaiman lost his confident and prayed to Lord
Shiva to help him conquer the kingdom of King Visvavasu. Pleased with his prayers,
Lord Shiva instructed Nandi to help Thondaiman to win the war. Nandi assisted
Thondaiman to win his battle with Visvavasu. Thus, Nandi is facing towards
outside as if it is ready to go with Thondaiman for the battle. As per another
legend, Once, Lord Shiva was teaching Vedas to the devas and sages. So, he
instructed Nandi to guard the entrance and not to allow anyone except the devas
and sages. Hence Nandi is facing towards outside instead of facing the sanctum.
Vedapureeswarar:
As per legend, Lord Shiva taught Vedas to the devas
and sages at this place. Hence, Lord Shiva came to be called as Vedapureeswarar
and the place came to be called as Thiru Vedapuram / Thiru Odhu Puram / Thiruvettipuram/ Thiruvothur.
Lord Murugan worshipped Lord
Shiva here:
This temple is considered as one of the temples where
Lord Murugan is believed to have worshipped Lord Shiva. It is believed that
Cheyyar river is said to have been created by Lord Murugan.
Cheyyaru:
As per legend, goddess Parvati made a line on the surface
of the earth with her trisula to make a river for her son (Sei), Lord Murugan
to play. Thus, the river came to be called as Cheyyaru (Sei means son and Aaru
means river).
People worshipped Lord Shiva
here:
It is believed that Murugan, Vinayaga, Bhairava,
Dakshayani, Vishnu, Brahma, Surya, King Thondaiman, Sambandar, Appar, devas and
sages had worshipped Lord Shiva here.
Lord Shiva performed his Veera
Nadanam here:
As per legend, Lord Shiva is said to have performed
his Veera Nadanam in this temple.