Semponarkoil Swarnapureeswarar Temple – Legends
Lakshmipuri:
It is
noteworthy that Sri Mahalakshmi performed penance on Lord Shiva of this temple to
have the hands of Vishnu as her Lord. Hence, the place has the name
Lakshmipuri.
Indirapuri:
It is
also called Indirapuri as Indira worshipped Lord Shiva here to get the weapon Vajrayudha
to kill demon Vruddhasura.
Kandapuri:
The
third name of the place is Kandapuri as Lord Muruga worshipped Lord Shiva to
destroy demon Tarakasura.
Murugan in the form of Shiva advised Parvathi:
A story
goes that when Lord Shiva refused to receive Mother Parvathi back after
visiting her father’s Yajna against his advice, Lord Muruga came to the Mother
in the form of Shiva and imparted good advices in this place. Based on
this story, Lord Muruga appears in the temple with an Akshamala. Shiva
appeared in this place only as Veerabadra.
Different Names of Mother:
Mother
Sugantha Kundalambika is praised by many names - Pushpalaki, Dhakshayani,
Suganthalaki, Suganthavana Nayaki and Maruvar Kuzhali.
Shiva naming Parvathi as Sugantha Kundalambikai:
Daksha,
son of Brahmma gave his daughter Dhakshayani to Lord Shiva in
marriage. Yet he intentionally failed to invite Lord Shiva for a yajna he
performed. Mother Dhakshayani wanted to correct her father by visiting the
yajna. But clouded by arrogance and pride, Daksha humiliated his own
daughter and her Lord. Furious Dhakshayani cursed her father that his
yajna would not go on. She also begged her Lord to destroy the
yajna.
Lord
Shiva created Veerabadra, Badrakali and others to destroy the yajna along with
Daksha. Dhakshayani to wash off her sin as the daughter of a Shiva
opponent performed penance here sitting around five types Agni-fire. Lord,
pleased with her penance named her Sugantha Kundalambikai and took her to bless
devotees along with him in the temple.
People worshipped Shiva here:
Agasthiar,
Brahmma, Vasishta, Naga Kanyas, Ashtadikbalakas, Gubera worshipped in this
place. Rathi worshipped Lord Shiva here to get back her husband Manmatha. Lord
Vishnu too had worshipped Lord Shiva here.