Gajendra Varadaraja Perumal Temple, Athalanallur –
Legends
Gajendra Moksham:
The
popular legend of Gajendra Moksha is associated with this temple. It
should be noted that there are several other temples which claim to have
associated with this legend. A king, Indradhyumna by name ruled the region in
accordance with the advice of Sage Agasthya, his Guru. One day, he failed
to receive the Guru when he came to his court as he was engaged in
entertainments.
Angry
Agasthya cursed him to become an elephant and be their head in the jungles. He
fell on the earth as an elephant bearing the name Gajendran – head of
elephants. Similarly, a Gandharva, a community noted for its musical skills,
fell to the curse of Sage Kabila. While the sage was bathing in the river,
the Gandharva, not meaning to offend him, caught hold of the legs of the sage
as he was also bathing the river.
The
angry sage cursed him to become a crocodile. He told the Gandharva that he
would remain a crocodile till Lord Vishnu would cut his head with his discus. King
Indradhyumna and the Gandharva thus began their cursed lives in earth and water
then. Due to scarcity of water caused by famine, the elephants came to River
Tambiraparani to quench their thirst. The crocodile in the river caught
hold of Gajendra who fought with the creature to free itself from its
hold.
The
struggle went on for thousands of years. Gajendra saw a lotus bud in the middle
of the river and immediately thought of Lord Vishnu and offered it to him
crying ‘Adhimoolame’. Lord rushed to the rescue of the animal and cut off
the crocodile with his discus. When the Lord gave his hand to Gajendra to
drag him to the bank, he requested the Lord to stay there itself to rescue
people in distress.
Lord
obliged the prayers and stayed in this holy soil. Both were simultaneously
relieved of the curses. It is strongly believed that salvation is certain to
those who worship in this temple where Indradhyumna cursed as elephant and a
Gandharva cursed as crocodile attained salvation. The sins of the devotee
get washed off.
Lord Vishnu darshan to Sages Brugu & Markandeya:
As per
another legend, the sages Brugu and Markandeya got darshan of Lord Vishnu in
this site on the banks of the river Tamirabarani.