Therazhundur Vedapureeswarar Temple – Legends
Shiva cursed Parvathi:
Once,
Parameswara and Mahavishnu played dice game with Parvati as the umpire. At one
phase, there arose a doubt regarding the number of the dice. The umpire
Parvati supporting Perumal found fault with Siva. The infuriated Siva
cursed Parvati to become a cow. Lord Vishnu felt that because of him only
Parvati became a cow and so incarnated as a cowherd in this place. So, the
name of the Perumal of this sacred place became ‘Aamaruviappan’.
Parvati
who became a cow went to several sacred places, prayed and finally came to this
holy place, worshipped Lord Siva and got back her beautiful figure. She
was called ‘Soundaryanayaki’. Those who want their beauty to be liked by
others can receive Grace from this Ambal. Lord Siva regretted for having
cursed Parvati as a cow, came here and taught Veda to the priests - hence the
holy name of the Lord, ‘Vedapureeswarar’. The mandapam where Lord Siva and
Vishnu played dice game is still there.
Jnanasambanda Vinayakar:
As a
child when Tirugnanasambandar came to this place, two temples were seen high on
two sides and there arose a doubt in him which of these was the Siva
temple. At that time, Lord Vinayaka of this place pointed to a temple,
“that is the temple of Easwara”. Hence, this Vinayaka is known
as “Jnanasambanda Vinayakar”.
Therazhundur:
Sage
Agastya was worshipping the Lord of this place. King Urthuvaradan, without
knowing this, was driving his car along the sky-space. The car paused and
did not move. Hence, this holy place came to be known as ‘Therazhundur’.
Nandi denied entry to Ashtadhik Balakas:
During
the period when Siva and Shakti were separated, Indra and other Devas came here
to meet them. But, Nandi did not allow them to meet Lord Siva. So the
Ashtadhik Balakas installed Lingam around the city and worshipped. The Lingas
are still seen here.
People worshipped Shiva here:
Kaveri
and Sage Agastya were relieved of their curses here. So they have separate
Sanctum. The Lord of this sacred place was worshipped by the Vedas, Devas,
Ashtadhik Balakas and sages.