Veeratteswarar Temple, Vazhuvur – Legends
Gaja Samhara Moorthy:
As per legend, once the sages of Darukavana were
engrossed in Dharma (righteousness) and extreme austerities but had forgotten
the Samkhya (Supreme Knowledge). Lord Shiva took the form of Bikshadana
(handsome mendicant) to dispense the ignorance of sages and lead them to true
knowledge. He entered Darukavana, begging for alms from the sages wives. They were so enamoured of him that while
granting alms, they allowed their clothes to fall off and followed him, dancing
and singing, love-sick. Bikshadana was accompanied by Mohini (Vishnu
disguised as Bikshadana enchanting wife).
Seeing Mohini, the sages simply stopped the yajna half
way and began following Mohini. The Rishis recovered from the illusion and not
knowing the stranger was but Lord Shiva, sent Agni, tiger, deer, snakes and a
battle axe called Mazhu. Lord Shiva defeated and made them his ornaments. The
sages performed a black magic sacrifice to create an elephant-demon called Gajasura to attack Lord
Shiva. When the elephant approached Lord Shiva, he assumed a miniscule form and
jumped into the trunk of the elephant.
He then took his Viswaroopa inside the elephant’s body
and came out explosively bursting through the stomach of the rogue elephant and
wore its skin as a garment. Therefore, this aspect of Lord Shiva came to
be called as Kirthivasa (one who wears an elephant skin as garment). Lord Shiva
finally revealed his true identity and did a furious dance in front of them. Realizing
their mistakes, the sages surrendered to Bikshadana. It is said that the heroic
feet of vanquishing the elephant demon happened in Vazhuvur
and Lord Shiva came to be called as Gaja Samhara Moorthy.
Fight between Saneeswarar
and Vikrama Chola:
As per legend, Lord Saneeswara fought with King Vikrama
Chola in the
temple. The king was defeated in the fight and the Saneeswarar leg got
injured in the fight. The king took bath in the spring and worshipped Lord
Shiva for relief from Saneeswarar. Lord Shiva saved him from Saneeswarar.
Meanwhile, Saneeswarar sought pardon from Lord Shiva as he fought his devotee
in this
temple. There is a separate shrine for Saneeswarar in the
temple holding a bow.
Jyeshta Devi & Sapta
Matrikas worshipped Lord Shiva here:
As per legend, Jyeshta
Devi and Sapta Matrikas worshipped Lord Shiva here. The Lingas worshipped by
them can be seen in the
temple premises even today.
Vazhuvur:
As the place eluded (Vazhuvudhal in Tamil) destruction during
pralaya floods, the place came to be called as Vazhuvur.
Vazhuvur Veerattanam:
It is said that Vazhuvur
Veerattanam was surrounded by Sameevanam, Darukavanam, Patharivanam and
Pipilavanam in ancient times.
Birthplace of Ayyapan:
As per legend, Vazhuvur
is believed to be the birthplace of Lord Ayyappa.