Panchavarnaswamy Temple, Woraiyur – Legends
Cock defeating Elephant:
Karikala
Cholan, a famous king of Chola dynasty during his travel from Kaviripoompattinam
passed through this place. A cock struck on the forehead of his
elephant. The elephant immediately began to retreat. The king
realized the greatness of the place, built a city and stayed here making it his
headquarters. The place is also called Uraiyur Kozhi. Kozhi in Tamil
means cock.
Tirumukkeswaram:
The
place is called Uraiyur or Tirumukkeswaram, was once the capital of Chola kings
as noted to Greek traveller Ptolemy. The 7th century Saiva canonical work Thevaram by Tirugnanasambandar mentions the place as
"Tirumukeechwaram".
Lord appeared in five different colours to Sage Uthanga:
Panchavarnaswamy,
the presiding deity of the temple, derives its name from the word Panchavarnam,
meaning five colours. As per Hindu legend, Shiva is believed to have appeared
for sage Uthanga in five different colours in five parts of the day (Ratna
Lingam in the morning, Spatika Lingam at noon, Gold Lingam in the afternoon,
Diamond lingam at night and Chitra lingam later on at midnight).
People worshipped Lord Shiva here:
The
temple is believed to have been worshipped by Garuda, Karkodan, Lord Brahmma Lord Vishnu, Sage Kathiru and
wife of Sage Kashyapa.
Equivalent to all Shiva Poojas:
Wherever
Shiva Puja is performed in any part of this world, all glory of the pujas reaches
this place, hence the name Uraiyur bearing this meaning.
Salvation to a Pig:
An
atheist ignored the Vibhuti-sacred ash Prasad offered to him in the
temple. He was born a pig in his following birth and had to live in ugly
muddy environment. He realized that his condition was the result of
earlier behavior. He bathed in the Shiva theertha and was freed from the
sin.
Gandhimadhi Amman:
Mother Gandhimadhi
Ammai was worshipped by Naga virgins in the Nagaloka – serpent world and was
installed here by a Chola king, according to history.
Equivalent to Pancha Boodha Sthalams:
Of the
Pancha Bhooda places, Tiruvanaikaval belongs to Water, Kanchipuram to Earth,
Tiruvannamalai to Fire, Kalahasthi to Wind-Vayu and Chidambaram to
Space-Akasha. The devotee can have the collective benefit of worshipping
in these five shrines if he worships Lord Shiva in this temple.
Birthplace of Tirupanazhwar, Kochengatchozha &
Pugazh Chola:
Uraiyur
also has the reputation of being the birth place of Vaishnavite saint
Tirupanazhwar, Kochengatchozha Nayanar and Saivite saint Pugazh Chola
Nayanar. Kochengatchozha Nayanar attained the Lotus Feet of Lord in
this place.
Merger of 5 Shiva Lingas to One:
Legend
states that a Chola king saw the five daughters of Nagarajan worshipping a
Shivalingam each, on the banks of the Naga Theertham. He married the youngest
of these princesses and requested his father in law for the Shivalingam that
was held in worship by Nagarajan. Nagarajan handed over a half of the
Shivalingam to his daughter, who in turn handed it along with the five
Shivalingams worshipped by the siblings; these entire merged into one under a
Vilva tree, under which, this temple originated.
