Kasi Viswanathar Temple, Tenkasi – Legends
Parakrama Pandiya, Builder of this Temple:
About
700 years ago, King Parakrama Pandiya was taking up a pilgrimage to Kasi as and
when he desired to worship Lord Viswanatha. The Lord appeared in his dream that
he could build a temple here itself to avoid a long journey to north. He
advised the king to follow the movement of ants row and build the temple where
it ended. The ant-line ended on the banks Chitraru River dense with Shenbaga
trees. He found a Swayambulinga near an anthill and built the temple as
directed by the Lord.
People worshipped Shiva here:
Sages
Narada, Agasthya, Mynagam, Kanva Rishi, Mrugandu and Indira, Vali, Nandhi had
worshipped the Lord in this temple.
Birthplace of Nandhi:
This
shrine is celebrated as the birth shrine of Nandhi (Bull -Vehicle of Lord
Shiva).
Child Boon:
A sage
called “Silogithar” prayed for child and got the boon here.
Statue of Parakrama Pandyan:
The statue
of Parakrama Pandyan who built this temple is in the sanctorum of the lord. The
king was offered respect as the chief of all the festivals at this shrine a
practice which is kept up even today.