Vaimoornathar Temple, Tiruvaimur – Legends
Saptha
Vidanga Sthalams:
Muchukunda Chakravarthy was a great and valorous Chola
king. He was once approached by Indra for help during the war between Devas and
Asuras. Muchukunda gladly agreed to help the lord of the Devas, and joined in
the war. Finally, with Muchukunda’s aid, the Devas succeeded in routing the
Asuras, and Indra was extremely grateful to the king. He offered the king a
gift of his choice and Muchukunda asked for the Thyagarajar Moorthy worshipped
by Indra. Indra was perplexed by this request as he did not want to part off
with his precious moorthy, but the king wouldn’t accept anything else.
He finally decided on a deception, so he ordered to make
six similar moorthis and asked Muchukunda to find out the one he wanted.
Muchukunda was a smart king, and prayed to Shiva to identify the correct one
and found the original moorthy. So Indra gave him all the seven moorthis to
Muchukunda. Muchukunda kept those moorthis in seven temples which are called Saptha
(seven) Vidanga temples. Muchukunda returned to earth with the seven
Thyagarajar moorthis and installed them at various places in his kingdom.
The original one he kept at the temple at Thiruvarur,
and the others at Thirunallar, Vedaranyam, Thiruvaimur, Tirukaravasal,
Thirukkuvalai and Nagapattinam. These seven temples are collectively known as
Saptha Vidanga Sthalams. Vidanga means something that has not been chiseled
out. These seven Thyagarajar moorthy are believed to be divine – not made by
chisels.
Appar
and Sambandar got darshan of Shiva here:
When Appar was staying at Vedaranyam, Lord Siva appeared
to him in his dream and prompted him to visit this temple. Appar followed the
route as indicated in the dream by the Lord and was able to reach this temple,
when he reached the temple he could not find the Siva Linga and Lord Ganesha
led him to the correct place inside the temple. There is an idol of Ganesh with
his trunk pointing to the direction of the Lord Siva. Sambandar who was also
staying at Vedaranyam eventually followed Appar to this temple. Both Appar and
Sambandar were blessed by Lord Shiva by revealing his resplendent divine form
in this temple.
Surya
worshipped Shiva here:
Surya is said to have worshipped Shiva here (the temple
tank here is named Surya Theertham, and the sun’s rays strike the sanctum on the
12th and the 13th of Panguni month.
Leelaahaasyapuram:
Thiruvaimur is known as Leelaahaasyapuram in Sanskrit.
Sambandar
got dance darshan of Shiva & Parvathi:
Sambandar got the dance Dharshan of Lord Shiva with
Parvathi Devi in this temple.
Prachanda
Maarutha Theertham:
Brahma and other Devas afraid of Taarakaasuran became
birds, came to this holy place, took bath in the Prachanda Maarutha Theertham
to ward off their sins, worshipped the Lord to be relieved from their sins.