Ponvaithanathar Temple, Chithaaimur – Legends
Lord
Shiva helped a Chettiar Girl in proving her Chastity:
In the Chetti Street of this place lived a
person, Sankaran, a great devotee of Lord Siva. His wife was
Anbirperiyaal. A few days after the marriage, her husband went to the
neighboring country on business. During those days with her husband, she had
become pregnant. Every day this lady used to sweep and mop the floor of the
temple and keep it clean. She also prepared garlands for the deity. The
happy Lord satisfied with her service, put a gold coin every day on the
doorsteps of the temple, for her expenses. Hence, this Lord came to be
known as ‘Ponvaithanathar’.
After a few months, people came to know about her
pregnancy. None knew about the Lord giving her gold coin. Her husband was
out of station. Then, how did she have money for her expenses? How did she
become pregnant? – People began doubting her. So, they ostracized
her. This chaste, bold woman surrendered herself to the Lord and stayed in
the temple itself. The confinement date was nearing. She had none to
help her. She prayed to the Lord to save her. The Great Mother,
Goddess Akilandeswari, the Mother of all created beings, conducted the delivery
for this abandoned woman.
The baby was born; her husband who went on business also
returned. The citizens of the place told him that they doubted his wife’s
character. Pained by these words, he enquired his wife about this
charge. But, she categorically replied that the Lord was the witness
for her purity. Her husband put strange conditions to her: “If you
are a sincere person, the closed doors of the temple should open on its
accord. The Arthajama pooja (the midnight pooja) should happen on its own
arrangement. The sacrificial peetam behind the Nandi image should be placed
before the Nandi statue. The sacred tree behind the temple should grow in front
of the temple”.
The shocked woman deeply prayed to the Lord, who wholeheartedly
accepted her prayers. Accordingly, in the presence of the people the closed
temple doors opened, the sacrificial peetam moved before the Nandi, the sacred
tree also grew before the temple and the midnight pooja happened without the
priest. The surprised citizens understood that these miracles
were performed by the Lord himself and so blessed the woman. Even today we
can see the Nandi statue outside the temple and the altar before the Nandi. Ponnirai, 6 kms west of this town, adjacent to the Aalathampadi
railway station, is the place where Lord Shiva gave one gold coin every day to
the Chettiar’s wife.
Sages in
the form of Bee worshipping Shiva:
A large bee hive of around 6 meters high is very special
here. A Brahmma rishi used to worship the Lord during mid-night. One day when
he was late, the temple doors were closed and he took the form of a bee went
inside and worshiped the Lord. Since then he lives here as bee itself along
with other Siddhars as bees. Worship is offered to the beehive also.
People
worshipped Shiva here:
Sage Agasthiyar, Lord Indra, Nagaraja and Lord Brahma
have worshipped the deity of this place.
Swayambu
Lingam:
The king who ruled Muthraasapuram excavated Shiva Lingam
from the earth where the milk was poured. Moolavar has a scar which was hit
during excavation.