Sorimuthu Ayyanar Temple, Karaiyar – Legends
Sorimuthu Ayyanar:
A
Brahmin, Muthupattar by name lived in North India. His brothers were discussing
about Ramayana. During their talks, the brothers asked Muthu Pattar about the
relationship of Rama with Sita. Pattar said Uncle. Beaten by the brothers for
his ignorance about the epic story, he came to Pothigai hills. He lost himself
to the two daughters of one Valai Pagadai belonging to the backward community.
As community was a hurdle to marry them, he declared himself as a member of the
community.
Quite
unfortunately, on the conjugal night, a cow was stolen and Muthupattar went in
search of the cow and was killed in a quarrel there. His two wives also
embraced death along with him. Later, a shrine was built for him - Pattavarayan
- where he appears with his wives Bommakka and Thimmakka. Though a
Brahmin, as advised by his father-in-law, he also learnt the cobbler
art. Hence, devotees ties chappals in the shrine.
When the
devotee visits the shrine next year, he will find that the chappals are worn
out though not used by anybody. This seems to be miracle in the
temple. As the temple is in a jungle region, there are no much human
movements. Yet the chappals are found used and old. Villagers in the
region come here in large numbers to worship Pattavarayan Sami for the welfare
of their cattle.
According
to a manual of Travancore state on Aiyappan, Muthupattar himself came out as
Sorimuthu Ayyanar. The term 'Pon Soriyum Muthian' means the Lord who down pours
golden-rain in the plateau. An instance of this rare phenomenon has found a
place in Government Revenue Records maintained by the British Rulers.
Divine Wedding of Lord Shiva & Parvathi:
During
the divine wedding of Lord Shiva with Mother Parvathi, as the mount went down
due to the weight of the heavy crowd gathered there, Lord Shiva sent Sage
Agasthya to South to balance the ground level. Sage worshipped Lord Shiva
on this hill. The Shivalinga worshipped by the sage got buried under the sand
in the days that followed. Cows grazing in this region were found pouring their
milk at a particular spot and this was communicated to the king. He found
a Linga at the spot and built a temple. Lord Dharma Sastha too came out of this
place as Sori Muthu Ayyanar.
Iluppai Tree:
There is
an Iluppai tree in the temple complex. The bells tied by devotees get
stuck to the tree which is considered as the Lord acknowledging their prayers.
Mooladhara Sthalam:
It is
generally believed that Sabari Hill is the first temple for Lord Dharma
Sastha. This temple on the Pothigai Hills revered as the Mooladhara is
considered first by some. Lord Dharma Sastha as Aiyappan in the palace of
Pandala king as his adopted Son, came to this place first as a young lad to learn
martial arts, hence this is the first temple dedicated to his worship. Based on
events in his life subsequently, other Aiyappan temples at Kulathupuzha,
Ariangavu and Achankoil came into being according to some facts. Sabarimalai
temple is the last when the Lord stayed there for his penance. Of the five
famous Lord Ayyappa temples, this is considered the Mooladhara.
Pon Soriyum Muthaiyan:
When
Agasthiyar was penancing here, he got an unexpected bright light Dharshan and
it took some time for Agasthiyar to even realize what was happening. There
Sastha gave darshan with Poorna Pushkala and all his parivars. There was a
Swarna abishekam on Sastha by all the devars. So the Sastha was called “Pon
Soriyum Muthaiyan” (the God who induced the Swarna rain). To support this, even
today golden nuggets are being found in this region.
Boothathar:
Once,
when the bridge connecting the temple to the main land was broken, the temple
became isolated and inaccessible for people. Boothanar took control over the
wife of a popular industrialist of Coimbatore and arranged to rebuild the
bridge. Now, a beautiful bridge is in place.