Mayuranathaswami Temple,
Mayiladuthurai – Legends
Mayuranathar:
As per legend, Daksha, father of Mother Sati conducted a
Yajna but intentionally failed to invite Lord Shiva to humiliate him. It is
said that Daksha Yajna was performed at nearby Thiruppariyalur.
Lord Shiva instructed Sati not to attend the Yajna. However, Sati attended the
Yajna to correct her father despite being invited and disobeying the words of
Lord Shiva. She was humiliated by Daksha.
This enraged Lord Shiva who sent Veeerabadhra and Kali
to desecrate the sacrifice conducted by Daksha. While the Yaga was being
desecrated by Veerabhadra and Kali, a peahen used for the rituals got injured
and sought asylum at the feet of Mother Sati. As she ignored the advice of Lord
Shiva, She was cursed to become a peahen. Later, when Sati repented, Lord Shiva
reduced this sentence.
Mother Parvathi had to pray first at Mylapore and
then at Mayiladuthurai
for the entire month of Aippasi to reunite with him. Sati repented for not
obeying the instructions of Lord Shiva. To wash off this sin, she entered the
sacrificial fire. She took birth as a peahen came to this
place. She performed severe penance to get back her Lord.
When Uma Devi performed penance in the form of a peahen,
she consumed the leaves of the Mango Tree. Pleased with her penance, Lord Shiva
took the form of a peacock and danced with his divine consort Uma Devi. This
divine dance is known as Gowri Thandavam (Mayura Thandavam). It is believed that
the divine couple performed the dance on 25th day of Aippasi. She
was restored back to her original form.
As Lord came here as a peacock (Mayura / Mayil), he came
to be called as Mayuranathar and the
place came to be called as Mayiladuthurai.
It is also said that the Lord Shiva convened a great assembly called Mahasabha
here and married Uma Devi on 27th day of Aippasi month. In memory of
the above event, Theerthavari is performed on all the 30 days in Aippasi, quite
a unique feature. Also, all the devas who attended Daksha Yajna worshipped Lord
Shiva here and got liberated from their sins.
Thula
Snana:
Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswathi were quite dirty and ugly as
people took bath in these rivers to wash off their sins. These three rivers
approached Sage Kanva Rishi in Kasi. He advised these rivers to visit Mayiladuthurai
during Aippasi (Thula) month for relief. As advised, they visited Mayiladuthurai,
took bath (Thula Snana) in Cauvery and got relief from their sins. Also, they
regained their beauty. Hence, it is considered auspicious to take bath at
Cauvery here during the month of Aippasi. Especially, the last day of Aippasi,
called Kadaimugam is considered the most sacred day to take bath here and get
moksha.
Mudavan
Muzhukku:
Nadha Sharma and his wife Anavidyambikai were ardent
devotees of Lord Shiva. They desired to merge themselves with the feet of Lord
Siva. To realise their desire, they undertook a pilgrimage visiting several
Shiva temples and finally reached Mayiladuthurai
for the Cauvery bath (Thula Snanam) during the Kadaimugam but by the time they
arrived it was too late.
They sadly stayed at the night on the banks of the
Cauvery worshipping Lord Shiva. Pleased with their devotion, Lord Shiva appeared
in their dream and said he will extend the sacred period to the next day and
asked them to take bath before the sunrise. Further, Lord Shiva assured that
they would have full benefit of the Tula Snanam bath.
Hence, the first day of Karthigai month before sunrise
is called Mudavan Muzhukku and is considered as holy as Kadaimugam. Based on
this, the practice of this bath continues even now on the first day of
Karthikai month. As Lord Shiva froze the bath time for his devotee couple,
this bath is called Mudavan Muzhukku (Mudakku means freezing & Muzhukku in Tamil
means bath).
Finally, the couple merged with the Lord Shiva. Nadha
Sharma merged with the Linga on the left side of the sanctum. This Linga is
facing towards west. Anavidyambikai merged with the Linga on the right
side of the Mother shrine. This Linga is dressed in Red Sari only. It also
indicates the oneness of male and female.
It is customary for all devotees who visit this
temple to offer worship first at the shrines of Nadha Sharma Lingam
and Anavidyambikai Lingam before offering worship to the Lord Mayuranathar. It
is believed that without worshipping these Lingas, they cannot please Lord
Mayuranathar and get their prayers fulfilled.
Rishaba
Theertham:
Once, Lord Shiva decided to visit Mayiladuthurai
along with Lord Vishnu and Lord Brahma. Nandi (Rishaba), mount of Lord Shiva, in
an arrogant display of high speed rushed a long way ahead leaving behind Garuda
and Anna Vahana. Also,
he felt proud that he was above all as
he was carrying Lord Shiva on his back. The Lord coming to know of it, wanted
to teach him a lesson. He just placed a strand from the matted hair of his head
on Rishaba.
Unable to bear its weight,
Rishaba felt crushed and immediately realized his mistake. He prostrated before
the Lord Shiva and sought his pardon. Lord Shiva not only pardoned him but also
initiated him into the mysterious divine wisdom. Hence, when the Lord Shiva took
the form of Guru Bhagawan, Rishaba was permitted to serve as his mount. The
Lord made Nandi to stay at Mayiladuthurai,
in the middle of the Cauvery.
He also directed that Ganga and
other rivers should flow into Cauvery on New moon day in the Tamil month of
Aipasi. Hence, the river at this particular
place spot
came to be known as Rishaba Theertham. It is
also called as Thula Ghat, where devotees flock in large numbers to take their
holy bath and perform darpan to their deceased ancestors in the month of
Aippasi (i.e. October-November).
It is popularly said that a pot of water taken from this
Theertham on this auspicious day can be preserved for any number of years
without the water getting spoiled. Thousands of orthodox Hindus take their bath
at this Rishaba Theertham during Thula Masam and also on the first day of
Karthigai month.
Thurai
Kaattum Vallal:
Thiru Gnana Sambandar wanted to visit Mayuranathar
Temple at Mayiladuthurai after worshipping Lord Shiva at Tiruvilanagar
on the northern banks of Cauvery but the floods in the Cauvery river did not
allow him to cross over to the southern side. Thiru Gnana Sambandar sung praise
of Lord Shiva of Tiruvilanagar
to provide access to Mayiladuthurai.
Pleased with his hymns, Lord Shiva ordered Cauvery River to make way for the
Nayanmar. Finally, Thiru Gnana Sambandar was able to cross the river,
worshipped Lord Shiva and sang hymns in praise of Lord Mayuranathar. Thus, Lord
Shiva of Tiruvilanagar
came to be called as Thurai Kaattum Vallal.
Abhayambikai
Bhattar:
Around 300 year ago, a boy named Krishnaswamy lived in a
devotional family in Nallathukudi near Mayiladuthurai.
One day, he was alone with no food. His mind was in all praise of Abhayambikai
of Mayiladuthurai
Mayuranathaswami Temple. Mother in the guise of an ordinary woman,
brought food in golden bowl and fed it to Krishnaswamy. Due to the feeding from
Mother, the boy was blessed with wisdom, education and expertise in poetry.
From then on, Krishnaswamy used to visit Mayiladuthurai
from Nallathukudi early in the morning and volunteer at the Mayuranathar temple
and return to Nallathukudi after completing the Arthajama Puja. One day, while
Krishnaswamy was returning to Nallathukudi after completing the Arthajama Puja,
he hit a stone in the darkness and fell down. He appealed to Mother
Abhayambikai and requested her to guide him with some light to his village.
To his surprise, Mother Abhayambikai appeared before him
carrying a torch in her hand and guided him to his village. He was mesmerized
and praised the mother for the affection shown on him. From that day onwards,
after the Arthajama Puja every day, a lantern appeared in front of Krishnaswamy
guiding him to his house in Nallathukudi.
The villagers were astonished to see the floating
lantern which is guiding Krishnaswamy to his house every day. One day
Krishnaswamy was worshiping Mother in front of her shrine in the
temple. Suddenly, he heard a divine voice instructing him to compose
hundred songs in Tamil called Satakam in praise of Mother Abhayambikai. Further,
the voice declared whoever worship her with the songs composed by Krishnaswamy
will be blessed.
Krishnaswamy was in doubt about his capability in
composing the songs and raised his incompetency to Mother. Mother blessed him
with ability to compose songs. Subramaniyam became Abhirami Bhattar after he
composed Abhirami Andhathi on Thirukadaiyur
Abhirami Amman. Similarly, Krishnaswamy became Abhayambikai Bhattar after he
composed Abhayambikai Satakam on Abhayambikai of Mayiladuthurai.
People
worshipped Lord Shiva here:
Mother Parvathy, Vishnu, Lakshmi, Brahma, Indra, Saraswathy,
Saptha Matrikas, Dharma, Brihaspati, Sage Agastya, Manmatha,
Devas, Ganga, Yamuna and even animals & birds such as cat, parrot, wolf,
elephant and horse have worshipped Lord Shiva here.
Lord
Muruga visit to Mayiladuthurai:
Lord Muruga visited Mayiladuthurai
to invoke the blessings of Lord Mayuranathar and moved from Mayiladuthurai
to Thiruvidaikazhi
near Thiru
Kadaiyur.
Puranic
References:
Skantha Purana, Shiva Purana, Brahmanda Purana and Chidambara
Purana extols the greatness of Mayiladuthurai
and glorify the presence of Cauvery.
Girivalam:
There are about 16 lingams at this
temple. Going around the temple for 16 times is equivalent to
undertaking a Giri Valam.
Creation
of Mayiladuthurai by Lord Brahma:
It is considered that Mayiladuthurai
was itself created by Lord Brahma who worshipped Lord Shiva here.
Lord
Dakshinamoorthy gave Upadesa to Rishaba Deva:
As per legend, it is believed that Lord Dakshinamoorthy
gave Upadesa to Rishaba Deva in this
place in yoga posture.
Other
Names:
Mayiladuthurai was called as Sikandipuram,
Brahmavanam, Sudavanam, Thenmayilai and Brahmapuram.