Sankara Narayanan Temple, Sankarankovil – Legends
Adi Tapas Festival:
Serpent
King Naga was a staunch Shiva devotee. Paduman, also a serpent, was a staunch
Vishnu devotee. Both were frequently debating about the supremacy of their
respective Lords. They went to Mother Parvathi for a verdict. Gomati
Amman, the consort of Siva wanted to see Hari and Hara as one and the same
Murti. So, Amman went on doing penance on the earth at Pungavanakshetram for 9
days in the month of Adi to have the darshan of Hari and Hara in one form. On
one full-moon day Lord Siva gave her darshan as Sankaranarayana. In
commemoration of this date the Adi Tapas festival is performed every year near
Pungavanakshetram.
Vanmeekanadhar:
The
snake pit (Ant Hill) is called "Vanmeekam". Hence the deity Sri Sankaralingam
is also called "Vanmeekanadar"
Hari & Haran as One:
Like
every other temple, Sankarankovil has its own interesting story. Once the
devotees of Lord Hari (or Vishnu) and Lord Shiva quarreled with each other to determine whose god
is powerful. Then Lord Shiva appeared as Sankaranarayana to mark his devotees
to understand that both Hari and Shiva are one and the same. So it is held
sacred by Shaivites and those Hindus who believe that Siva and Vishnu
are a single deity one in one and accordingly, desire to worship the two gods
into one form. Srivaishnavites of Tamilnadu who worship Lord Vishnu only, have
not accepted the mingling of Siva and Vishnu thus, and therefore, they reject
this deity of this temple. The presence of Shiva and Vishnu motivates devotees
to pray for unity, especially when there are differences due to caste and
communities in neighborhoods.
Ugra Pandyan – Builder of this Temple:
Once
upon a time a "Devan" (Angel) called "Manikkeerivan" was
cursed by Goddess Parvathi. Because of which, he had to come to earth and work as
gardener in a beautiful garden. One day while he was clearing a snake pit, the
snake tail was also cut. He found a Shivalingam next to the snake. He went and informed about this
to his king Ukkira Pandiya Thevar. The king considered it to be the god's wish to stay
there and constructed the temple and a city around.
Another
version of this story says that the Pandya king’s daily routine was to go to Madurai
on an elephant to worship Lord Somasundarar and Meenakshi Amman. One day his
elephant suddenly stopped at a spot, dug a hole with its trunk, fell down on
the path and refused to move. Manikireevan, the king’s guard, rushed to Ugra Pandyan
and said that there was a Shivalingam with a cobra coiled around it in the
Punnai (Naga champa or Purasakeshara) forest nearby. The king came to the spot
and a voice was heard which instructed Ugra Pandyan to construct a temple and
worship the lingam with utmost devotion.
This was
how that the temple was built say the locals. Then he had a bath in the
Nagasunai (holy tank) and worshipped the God. Later on according to history,
the king destroyed the forest in the vicinity of the ant – hill, constructed
this Temple with Mandapams, Gopuram (Tower) and Compound walls. In the 12th
Century king Seevalaramapandian constructed the Rajagopuram (big tower) and
front Mandapam. This temple has three important sannidhis with in its premises.
Nagasunai:
Legend
says that Nagasunai, the sacred tank attached to Sankaranarayana Kovil, was dug
up by the two serpent kings Sankan and Paduman. Devotees believe that a dip in
the holy waters will cure all diseases.
Putru Man:
The
earth from the ant hill is also said to have great medicinal value especially
to cure skin diseases. This sand is offered as Prasad to the sick devotee to
take with the water of the tank for a cure.
Relief from Poisonous Creatures:
Devotees
beset with problems from poisonous creatures in their houses like lizards,
scorpions and snakes offer silver pieces embossed with the images of such
creatures for relief.
Pambatti Siddhar Samadhi:
One of
the 18 siddhas, the great Pambatti Siddhar worshipped this goddess as Valai Kumari
and he regarded this goddess to be the great serpent power which can make
miracles in taking aspirant in yogic transformation. Pambatti Siddhar Samadhi
is seen behind the temple.