Vanamutti Perumal Temple, Kozhikuthi, Mayiladuthurai –
Legends
Story of Pippala Maharshi:
A king
called Nirmalan once suffered from a skin disease. While passing through a
forest, he came across a sage playing veena very sweetly. He fell at
the feet of the sage and sought his blessings for relief from the disease. Merciful
rishi taught a mantra to the king and advised him to say the mantra daily. As
per the rishi’s advice king began to chant. Suddenly he heard some voice and
the voice said, “This is the voice of Lord Vishnu. You are affected by an
intense dosha. Start your pilgrimage through the banks of Cauvery. Moovalur
Lord Marga Sahayeswarar (Lord Shiva) will guide you. Bathe in all
the holy places on the way. You stop and stay at a place where your body
becomes clear of the disease”.
The king
stopped the journey at the place as directed by the voice and was happy to see
him quite healthy free of the disease. He prayed to Lord Vishnu with
all gratitude. A tall Athi tree appeared from where God granted darshan to
the king, with Mother Mahalakshmi on his chest. As all the sins of the
king were washed off here, the place came to be known as Koti Hathi meaning the
place freeing the devotee from crores of doshas. In the days that
followed, the name changed as Kozhi Kuthi. The king, surrendering at the
feet of Lord, began penance and became Pippala Maharshi. The Maharshi
began his penance on the banks of Cauvery. Now there is a Mandapam in
this place and the Cauvery flowing nearby is called Pippala Theertha.
Later
King Sarabhoji approached the sage Pippalar to give solution for coming out of
the sin done by him during war times. Pippalar advised him to worship Lord Sri
Srinivasa Perumal and take bath in the Pushkarani for 48 days. King Sarabhoji
was astonished by the beauty of Lord Sri Srinivasa and constructed a beautiful
temple having 7 Praharams.
Place to cure Skin Diseases:
The
famous “Pippalar Maharishi Theertham” where a holy dip is claimed to cure skin
diseases is located here. There is a Pippalar Sannathi in the Margasagayeswarar
temple at Moovalur.
Etymology:
As Pippalar
was liberated from Kodi Hathi Dosham, this place came to be referred to as Kodi
Hathi Papa Vimochana puram which in course of time became Kozhi Kuthi, the name
by which this place is referred to now.