Karunellinathar Temple, Thiruthangal – Legends
Thiruthangal:
As per a
Hindu legend, Ranganatha (the reclining form of Vishnu) from Srirangam Ranganathaswamy
temple was enamoured by the
devotion of Andal. He started a journey to Srivilliputhur Divya Desam to seek her hand for marriage. While reaching the
place, it became dark and he decided to spend the night in the place. Since he
stayed at this place, it came to be known as Thiruthangal and the hillock came
to be known as Thalagiri.
Origin of Arjuna River:
As per
another legend, the Pandavas from Mahabharata were living in exile and were roaming around the
forest of Western Ghats. They could not get water for performing their daily
pooja. As Sun was rising, Arjuna, one of the princes, prayed to Ganga to send water to the place and shot an arrow that
split earth and brought forth a river. The river that originated is believed to
be the Arjuna river in modern times.
Karunellinathar:
The
place where the temple was located was believed to be housing two Amla trees
(called nelli in Tamil) and hence got the name as Irunellinathar,
which later went on to become Karunellinathar.
Thiruthangal Murugan:
The
shrine of Lord Muruga was built by a devotee named Arumuga
Thambiran. He used to visit Palani each year for darshan of Lord
Muruga. During one such annual Padayathra, he could not cross a canal on the
way as he grew old. He stayed there itself and performed pujas. When
he dug the earth to make oven for cooking, he got gold coins which he used to
build the temple. People celebrate Muruga of this place – Thiruthangal –
as powerful and graceful as he is in Palani.