Chathuranga Vallabhanathar Temple, Poovanur,
Needamangalam – Legends
Chathuranga
Vallabhanathar:
A king Vasudevan by name visited a number of Shiva
temples seeking child boon. They worshipped with all devotion Lord Nellaiyappar
in Thirunelveli. Pleased with their prayer, Lord made Mother Parvathi to be
their daughter and Mother Chamundeeswari her nurse. When the royal couple
was bathing in Tambiraparani, they found a conch floating on a lotus. When
they picked up the conch, it became a child. They named the child
Rajarajeswari. As decided by the Lord, Chamundeeswari one of the Saptha Madhas
became the nurse of the child Raja Rajeshwari.
Rajarajeswari mastered all the arts and the Chess in
particular. The king announced that the one who won his daughter in Chess would
have her hand. But none could win her. The king, as advised by a sage took on a
pilgrimage with his queen, daughter, her nurse Chamundeeswari and his
convoy. Lord in the guise of a Siddha met the king and claimed that he was
master of chess game. The king welcomed the siddha to play with his
daughter.
Lord in the guise of Siddha won the game and appeared in
his true form granting darshan to all. The divine wedding took place with all
its due pomp and splendour. As Lord won the chess game-Chaturangam in Tamil,
came to be praised as Chathuranga Vallaba Nathar. Ambica and her nurse
Chamundeeswari bless the devotees from their respective shrines. Lord joined
them to stay in the place. The temple came into being.
People
worshipped Lord Shiva here:
Lords Vishnu, Brahmma, Vinayaka, Muruga and Indira,
Sages Sukha Muni and Agasthya had worshipped Lord in this temple performing
pujas.