Karavera Nathar Temple, Karaveram – Legends
Practice
of women watering the sacred tree on every Pournami:
Lord Shiva appointed Sage Gautama to take care of the
Linga which he installed himself. The sage stayed in this sacred land,
performed penance and sought the grace of Lord Shiva. Granting Darshan to
the sage, Lord asked him his wish. The sage said that after his life time,
nobody should see his mortal body. As the devotees would worship him also
in the temple, he wanted to become the sacred tree of the temple and sought
that boon. Lord obliged the sage. It is on the basis of this story, women
use to water the sacred tree on every new moon day and worship Lord
Brahmapureeswarar then.
Etymology:
Karaveeram means Ponnalari, a flower. The place is named
after this plant -sacred tree.
Practice
of Night Stay in the Temple:
Saint Thirugnana Sambandar had to stay here as night
fell then. In his hymn on the Lord of Karaveeram, in each verse he had
emphasized that the devotee would be relieved of his problems - Vinai in
Tamil. Devotees therefore stay here for a night; worship the Lord
next day for solutions to their problems.
Lord
granted Salvation to a Donkey:
A donkey performed penance in this place on Lord Shiva
for his darshan. As its wish was not in sight, frustrated, it decided to
fall in the sea at Nagore. The animal heard a sound and turned back and its joy
knew no bounds as Lord granted his darshan and also salvation, according to
Puranas. Because of this event, there is no flag post before Lord’s shrine
and houses or buildings up to Nagore from this place. The philosophy is
that Lord does not discriminate among beings to shower his grace.
Marriage
Sthalam:
Women of the celestial world once met Lord and Mother
at Mount Kailash and sought wedding boon. Mother Parvathi
looked at Lord for the reply. Lord Shiva made a Shivalinga himself, installed
it on the southern bank of Cauvery and advised the women to worship the
Linga. They followed the advice and were rewarded with suitable
matches. Even today, women use to water the sacred tree here on new moon
days and worship Lord Brahmapureeswarar then to gain wedding boon. It is
believed that their wish is materialized before the next new moon day.
Brahma
worshipped Lord Shiva here:
The presiding deity is called Brahmapureeswarar since
Lord Brahmma worshipped him.
