Madhuvaneswarar Temple, Nannilam – Legends
Devas in
the form of bees worshipped Shiva here:
During the Dwapara Yuga Lord changed all Devas into bees
to protect them from the harassment of demon Vruddhasura. Lord also advised the
Devas to make bee-hives in the sanctum and worship him. As bees worshipped
here the Lord is named Madhuvaneswarar (Madhu in Sanskrit means honey), Mother
as Madhuvana Nayaki and the place as Madhuvanam. There are bees around the
place even now but they do not harm anybody. As a proof of this, there are two
beehives one in Somaskandar shrine and the other in the Subramanya shrine.
Yama,
Varuna, Indira & Kubera installed Lingas in four directions:
Yama the Lord Death in the south, Varuna the God of
rains in the west, Indira in east and Kubera in the north installed Shivalingas
in the place and worshipped the Lord.
Fight
between Vayu and Adhiseshan:
Vayu the God of wind and divine serpent Adisesha claimed
supremacy of their prowess in the court of the Devas. Adisesha covered the
peaks of Mount Meru with his thousand heads. Vayu could not shake the mount. This
created panic in the world and yielding to the appeal of Devas Adisesha gave in
one peak. Vayu shook the peak and took it to south when one small piece fell in
this place, according to Sthala Purana. The piece of the peak that fell here
became a small mount which was earlier a plain. The temple is believed to have
been built on this mount.
Lord
Shiva appeared to King Bruhadrajan here:
Lord Shiva appeared here as a Tejolinga as the result of
the penance of King Bruhadrajan in Kritha Yuga.
Historical
Names:
Madhuvanam, Devaranyam, Sundaravani, Bruhathpuram are
the historical names of this place.
Chakra
Theertham:
Lord Vishnu had a fierce battle with the demon
Jalandhara. Lord Vishnu set out his fierce weapon dice/Chakkrayudha to
behead the demon fallen on this sacred place and formed a pond known as Chakra
Theertham.
People
worshipped Shiva here:
Lord Brahma, Lord Yama, Lord Varuna, Lord Kubera, Lord
Indra, Lord Surya, Devas, Sage Agastya, King Bruhadrajan worshipped Lord Shiva
here.
Place
for Salvation:
It is believed that one will get salvation by
worshipping here during Ekadasi and Pradoshams.
Brahmma
Theertham:
It is believed that taking bath in Brahmma Theertham
during the Masi month will fetch all benefits.