Kayarohanaswami Temple, Nagapattinam – Legends
The name, Kayaroganeswarar:
Sage
Pundarika was advised by Sage Kanwa to do penance to Lord Shiva for seeking
salvation. Shiva gave a darshan and embraced the sage and granted salvation.
Usually the soul merges with the divine but as the Lord embraced (Aarohanam)
Sage Pundarika along with his body (Tamil: Kayam), Shiva is called Kaya (body) Aarohana
(embrace) Easwarar - Lord Kayaroganeswarar.
Nagai Karonam:
Another
legend says that the King of Serpents prayed to Shiva and was blessed with a
girl child. She was born with three breasts and the serpent king was greatly
upset. Shiva assured the king that one breast would disappear when a king from
the Surya dynasty visited him. King Shalisuhan came to this place, the third
breast vanished. The Naga king in delight gave his daughter to Shalisuhan in
marriage. As the Naga king worshipped here, the place came to be known as Nagai
Karonam that became Nagapattinam.
Saptha Vidanga Sthalam:
Emperor
Muchukunda got seven Lingas from Indira for the helps he had rendered
him. These Lingas were small – Vidanga in size. The Emperor installed
the Linga in Seven Places called Saptha Vidanga sthalas. This is one such
Sthalas with a Linga so beautiful made of Ruby. Hence, the Lord is named
Sundara (beautiful) Vidangar.
Irattai Parvai Nandhi:
As
Ambica is a virgin, Lord sent Nandhi Deva to be her guard. But Nandhi
expressed his wish to be with Lord for ever seeing him. Lord said that he
can have his darshan though with Ambica. Nandhi in the temple is seen with
its neck turned towards Lord with one eye on Ambica and other on the
Lord. Hence, the Nandhi is known as Twin View Nandhi (Irattai Parvai in
Tamil). Those having vision problems pray to this Nandhi.
Rare Custom of placing Garlands and Clothes used for
Lord to corpse:
Generally,
temples are closed if a death occurs in a nearby place. In this
place, the garlands and the clothes – vastras used for the Lord is placed on
corpse. A fisherman, Adhipathar attained salvation with the grace of Lord
Shiva in this place. Remembering this event, as a mark of respect to the
community, this practice is followed in this temple. The body is placed before
the temple without closing the doors. The garland and the vastras used for
the Lord are placed on the body.
Lord procession to seven places instead of going around
Mada Veedhis:
During
festival procession, Lord goes round the Mada Veedhis (Streets) and return to
the temple. But Lord beginning his procession from this temple, goes
to seven places – Poigainallur, Poravacherry, Sikkal, Palur, Vadagudi, Thethi
and Nagoor. Maharaja Salija worshipped Lord Shiva and performed puja in
these seven places. The present system is to remember this history.
Vishnu accompanies Shiva during Pradosham:
Against
the practice of Lord coming in the Vrushab vahanam on Pradosham days, Lord
Vishnu too accompanies Lord Shiva in the guise of Mohini. When the milk
ocean was churned, Nectar came out and was served by Lord Vishnu to
Devas. Devas failed to pray to Lord Shiva who swallowed the Halahala
poison to save the world. Realizing their folly, they begged the pardon of
the Lord. Showing his mercy to them, Lord Shiva danced on Nandhi. This
dance took place at the Pradosham time. Lord Vishnu’s Mohini Avatar took
place a little before this time. This Vishnu darshan is available to the
devotees on Pradosham day only.
Navagrahas facing West – the Lord:
Emperor
Dasaratha came to know that Planet Saturn would be splitting the Rohini star
causing severe famine in his country. He planned to fight Saturn to
prevent him from doing so. Sun God advised Dasaratha to drop his plan but
to beg Saturn to change his transit route in public interest. Saturn also
admired the earlier plan of the emperor to meet him in war for the sake of his
subjects without any selfish motive personally. The planet yielded to the
emperor’s wish. Remembering this event, all the planets (Navagrahas) in
the temple are facing west-the Lord.
Athipathar attained salvation here:
Fisherman
Athipathar was a staunch Shiva devotee. When he went for fishing, he would
offer the first to Lord Shiva. At a stage, he was getting only one fish
each day but did not break away from his commitment. He offered them to
Lord and returned without any catch. He got a golden fish one day. Though
everyone prevented him from throwing it into the sea, Athipathar resolutely
stood by his commitment and threw it into the sea.
He was
awarded with salvation and a place among the 63 Nayanmars. The event is
celebrated on the Ayilyam star day in Aavani month
(August-September). Athipathar goes in catamaran when fishermen place two
gold fishes in the net as if caught in the net. Lord Shiva will appear on
the sea shore. Athipathar performs pujas to Lord Shiva with the golden
fishes. Shiva will grace darshan to Athipathar. So goes the festival
grandly.
Azhuguni Chithar:
As a
child adamantly demanding the mother to get its wish, there was a Siddha in the
place called Azhuguni Chithar – crying adamantly for a wish. He used to cry in
the shrine of Mother Neelayadakshi demanding salvation. He was the disciple of
Gorakka Siddha. He stayed in the temple, cried for getting his
demand. Mother spoke to Lord Shiva of the issue. Lord granted
salvation to Azhuguni Chithar. His Jeeva Samadhi is in this
temple. Special pujas are performed to Siddha on Vaikasi Visakam
day. Also special pujas are performed here offering porridge (Payasam in
Tamil) as nivedhana on Poornima – full moon – days.
Praised in Thevaram Hymns:
The
temple is greatly praised by the three celebrated saints Sambandar, Appar and
Sundarar in their Thevaram hymns. Sundarar received gifts of pearl and
diamond chains, a horse and cosmetic things.
Sages worshipped Lord here:
Sages
Markandeya, Gauthama, Vasishta, Kashyapa, Pulasthya, Agasthya and Angirasa
(Saptha Rishis) had worshipped Lord Shiva in this temple.
Neelayadakshi:
The
goddess here is Neelayadakshi. Neelayadakshi means the one with the blue eyes.
She is in the form of a pubescent girl, and is believed to be one of the Shakti
Peetams. She is also considered to be one among the five most important
goddesses, all in different stages of life. These are - Visalakshi (Kashi -
Child), Kamakshi (Kanchi - young girl), Neelayadakshi (Nagai - pubescent), Kamalambigai
(Thiruvarur - young woman) and Meenakshi (Madurai - married woman).