Parimala Ranganathar Temple, Thiruindalur – Legends
Thiru Indhalur:
Tara,
the star goddess was the wife of Brihaspati, the guru of Devas. As
her husband spent most of his time with the problems and matters of Devas, she
felt being ignored by her husband. One day, Chandra, the moon god visited
Brihaspati. He saw Tara and was captivated by her beauty. Tara also saw Chandra
and she was attracted to him. He abducted her and made her his queen. Brihaspati
was infuriated and demanded Chandra to return his wife. Chandra told Brihaspati
that Tara was happy and satisfied with him. He further insulted that old man
should not deserve a young and beautiful wife.
This comment
made Brihaspati more annoyed and warned Chandra for battle. Brihaspati,
after multiple failed peace missions and threats, declared war against Chandra.
Indra and other Devas gathered to fight a war. Chandra was not ready to
give Tara back and he took help from the Asuras and their preceptor, Shukra. Devas
and Asura were about to fight a war, but Lord Vishnu stopped them and
convinced Chandra to return Tara. After her return, Brihaspati found out that
Tara was pregnant and questioned her who the father of the child was.
She
later gave birth to a son named Budha, but there was a controversy over
the paternity of the child with both Chandra and Brihaspati claiming themselves
as his father. Lord Vishnu once again interfered and questioned Tara, who
eventually confirmed Chandra as the father of Budha. Brihaspati got furious and
cursed Chandra to deformity for casting eyes on his wife. Budha hated his
father for his misdeed, performed severe penance and became a planet. After
losing Tara, Chandra's lust for union grew.
To
satisfy his lust, he married twenty-seven daughter of Daksha, who are the twenty-seven
Nakshatras or Constellations on the Moon's orbit namely Ashvini, Bharani, Krittika, Rohini, Mrigashiras,
Ardra, Punarvasu, Pushya, Ashlesha, Janakam, Purvaphalguni, Uttaraphalguni,
Hasta, Chitra, Svati, Mula, Vishakha, Jyestha, Anuradha, Purvashadha, Uttarashadha,
Purvabhadrapada, Shravana, Dhanishta, Shatabhisha, Uttarabhadrapada and Revati.
Among all of his 27 wives, Chandra loved Rohini the most and spent most of his
time with her.
The 26
other wives became upset and complained to Daksha. Dakshan found that the
handsome looks had made Chandra too arrogant and cursed him to immediately lose
his youth and his strong luring features. Thus, Chandra was afflicted with
double curse. Chandra felt guilty of his act, asked for forgiveness, and requested
his Guru Brihaspati to suggest a remedy for his curses. He advised Chandra to visit
Srirangam, Tiru Indhalur and Thalai Sanga Nanmathiyam and worship Lord Vishnu
for relief.
As
advised, Chandra first visited Srirangam Ranganathar Temple, took holy dip in Chandra
Pushkarini, worshipped Ranganathar for several years and got relief from his
physical disease. Then, he visited Thiruindalur,
took bath in the theertham and worshipped Parimala Ranganathar and Parimala
Ranganayaki. Pleased with his worship, Lord Vishnu, and Mother Lakshmi
partially liberated Chandran from his curse.
As the
curse was absolved by Mother Lakshmi, she came to be called as Chandra Sabha
Vimochanavalli. The theertham where Chandra took the sacred bath came to be
called as Chandra Pushkarini. As Chandra (Indhu) was liberated from his curse
at this place, the place came to be called as Thiru Indhalur. Then, Lord
Chandra went to Thalai Sanga Nanmathiyam, had bath in the Pushkarini and
underwent severe penance on Lord Vishnu. Pleased with his penance, Lord Vishnu
liberated Chandra completely from all his sins.
Ekadasi Vratham:
As per
legend, Ambarisha is an Ikshvaku king, and the son
of Mandhata. He is believed to have conquered the whole world in a
week. He lived during the Treta Yuga. He was a great devotee of Lord
Vishnu. Being pleased with his devotion, Lord Vishnu had given
his Sudarshana Chakra to Ambarisha, who worshiped the deity's weapon
with great devotion. Once, during Vaikuntha Ekadashi, Ambarisha performed
the Dvadashi Vrata at this place, which required that the king must start
a fast on Ekadashi, and break it at the start of Dvadashi (the twelfth
day) and feed all his people.
Incidentally,
it was the 100th Ekadasi-Dwadasi for king Ambarisha. People of
his country and those in the palace were happy that their king will be
completing a century and there were necessary arrangements for the
celebrations. As the moment of breaking the fast was drawing near, the mighty
sage Durvasa arrived and was received with all honours by Ambarisha.
Durvasa agreed to the king's request to be his honoured guest and asked the
king to wait until he finished his bath in the Yamuna river and
returned.
As the
auspicious moment approached when the king had to break his fast to fulfill the
vow of the vrata, Durvasa did not turn up. On the advice of his priests,
the king broke his fast by taking a little water and waited for the arrival of
sage Durvasa to offer him food. Durvasa, who was well known for his short
temper, felt that Ambarisha had violated the respect due to a guest by breaking
his fast before the guest had taken his meal, and in his rage created
an asura to kill Ambarisha, out of a strand of his hair.
Because
Ambarisha was a great devotee, the Sudarshana Chakra intervened, destroyed the
asura, and started chasing Durvasa himself. Durvasa went
to Brahma and Shiva for protection. Both pleaded their
inability to save him. He went to Vishnu himself, who said that he could do
nothing as he was bound by the faultless devotion of Ambarisha and suggested to
the sage to seek the pardon of the king.
Durvasa
went to Ambarisha, who prayed to Vishnu to recall his discus, and save Durvasa.
Thus, Durvasa's life was spared. As he completed 100 Ekadasi-Dwadasi
vrata, Lord Vishnu appeared before him and asked for his wish. King Ambarisha requested
Lord Vishnu to stay at the place and bless the devotees. Lord Vishnu accepted
his request and stayed here. It is said that those who want to undertake the
Ekadasi fasting, should start the practice from this temple.
Argument between Thiru Mangai Azhwar & Lord Vishnu:
As per
legend, Thirumangai Azhwar reached this temple little late for darshan of Lord
Vishnu. Lord Vishnu closed the door as he was late. Upset over this incident, Thirumangai
Azhwar argued vehemently with Lord Vishnu for darshan. However, Lord Vishnu
refused to open the door for Thirumangai Azhwar. Lord Vishnu asked him to sing
hymn in praise of him. Thirumangai Azhwar argued that he could not compose hymn
without seeing the beauty of Lord Vishnu.
Thirumangai
Azhwar decided to leave the temple without singing pasurams, but Lord Vishnu prolonged
the argument. Lord Vishnu argued that how Thirumangai Azhwar was able to praise
few Divyadesams without visiting them. Considering the same, Lord Vishnu asked
Thirumangai Azhwar to sing hymn in praise of Lord Vishnu of this temple.
Finally, Thirumangai Azhwar agreed with Lord Vishnu and composed ten pasurams praising
Lord Vishnu of this temple. Pleased with his pasurams, Lord Vishnu gave darshan
to Thirumangai Azhwar.
Cauvery river equivalent to Ganga river here:
As per
legend, Cauvery river performed intense penance on Lord Vishnu in order to
raise her status on par with Ganga river. Pleased with her penance, Lord Vishnu
made her as his bed at Srirangam, took her as his mother at Thirucherai and
above his head at Thiruindalur. Thus, Cauvery river attained the status similar
to that of Ganga river who is on the head of Lord Shiva. In memory of this
event, it is unique to note that river goddess Cauvery near the head side and
river goddess Ganga at the foot side of Lord Vishnu in the sanctum.
Parimala Ranganathar:
As per
legend, two demons namely Madhu and Kaitaba stole the Vedas from Lord Brahma and
disappeared into the sea. Lord Brahma requested Lord Vishnu to retrieve the
vedas from the demons. As requested, Lord Vishnu in the form of matsya avatara
restored the Vedas as well their fragrance (Parimalam). Hence, he came to be
called as Parimala Ranganathar.
Sugantha Vanam:
As this place was surrounded by forest of fragrant flowers, the place came to be called
as Sugantha Vanam.