Mehanadhar Temple (Lalithambigai Temple),
Tirumeeyachur – Legends
Meeyachur:
Many of us know that Aruna is the charioteer of Sun. His
story lies in Tirumeeyachur. Sage Kashyapa had two wives, Vinatha and Karthru. Both
prayed to Lord Shiva for a child. Shiva gave two eggs to them. Of Vinatha’s
egg, Garuda was born. As nothing came out of the egg of Karthru, in haste, she
broke the egg and found a deformed child. She begged to Lord Shiva for her
hasty act. Lord was all merciful and told her that the child would be
charioteer of Sun’s Ratha drawn by 7 while horses and the dawn of the day would
be called Arunodaya after his name Aruna.
Aruna was a staunch Shiva devotee and performed penance
to have his darshan. Sun mocked at him saying that how a person with
deformities can perform penance. Yet Aruna did not lose heart and continued the
penance. While gracing Aruna, Lord Shiva cursed Sun for ridiculing Aruna. Sun
lost his radiance and made amends by worshipping Shiva and Mother placing them
on an elephant. Representing this story, the sanctum sanctorum of the temple is
in the Gajabrushta (back side of an elephant) form. Shiva graces in the name of
Meganatha here. There are three Kalasas (pots) on the Vimana. As Sun regained
his radiance, the place is known as Meeyachur.
Surya
got relief of Lord Shiva’s Curse:
Once, Arunan, as the charioteer of Surya wanted to go to
Kailash and have a darshan of Shiva but Surya didn’t allow him. Hence, Arunan
took the form of a charming girl (Mohini) and went to Kailash. Searching
Arunan, Surya found the girl (Arunan) in the middle and united with her without
her permission (this is how Aswini devas were born). Some say that when Arunan
took the form of a beautiful young horse, Surya took the form of a male horse
and copulated.
When Arunan pleaded to the Lord, He cursed Surya. So
Surya got his body blackened out and the whole universe got darkened. For seven
months, Surya Bhagavan did Tapas (meditation) here and worshipped Lord Shiva
as Gajaaruda seated on an elephant among thick clouds. Hence
the Vimanam of this temple is Gajruda Vimana. Since his darkness
did not change even after the Tapas, he started screaming in grief, “He
migura”. The Goddess who was alone with Lord Shiva got disturbed with
Surya’s shout and became angry.
She was about to curse him but the Lord then pacified her
not to get angry and remain cool as “Shanta Naayagi”, saying Surya was already
suffering by curse and looking for relief. This pacifying scene depicted by a
sculpture is one of the key attractions of this temple in the outer praharam of
the main shrine. Here Lord Shiva is holding Parvati’s cheeks… to pacify
her. From one angle the Goddess appears to be in anger whereas from the other
angle she looks very romantic – what a wonderful expression brought out in
stone.
Since Shiva himself asked the mother of universe,
Lalithambigai, to be calm, the angels called Vachini Devatas emerged from the
mouth of Lalithambigai and they gifted Lalitha Sahasranamam, the 1000 holy
names in praise of Goddess, to the world. By his grace Surya was cured. Arunan
also prayed this Shiva and he blessed him and said that Arunodaya will be
powerful than Suryodaya for good deeds.
Sage Agastya
sung Lalitha Navaratnamala:
Hayagriva conveyed to sage Agasthiyar Lalitha
Sahasranamam. As told by him, Agasthiyar came to this temple and worshiped the
Lord in the “Amla phaladi krana puja” as done by the Surya Bhagavan and saluted
Shri Lalithambika. Sage Agastya is believed to have sung Lalitha Navaratnamala
in praise of the Goddess. He has also composed a hymn named Rahasyanama Sahasram.
Yama
Dharma Raja got Saneeswarar as his child here:
Yama Dharma Raja also prayed here for Santhana and got
Saneeswara as his child.
Avathara
Sthalam:
This is the birth place of Garuda, Aruna the charioteer
of Sun, Vali, Sugreeva, Yama and Saneeswara. Hence, people perform Ayush
Homa and Mrutyunjaya Homa in this temple for longevity.
Lalitha
Sahasranama:
Dreaded demon Pandasura was harassing sages and Devas. They
surrendered at the feet of Mother Parasakthi for protection. Responding to
their appeal, Devi rose from a Yaga Gunda, mounted on the Sri Chakra Rath with
the name Lalithambika, waged the war against the demon and destroyed
him. She was very furious then. Lord Shiva asked Mother to go to
Earth, assume the name Manonmani and perform penance and shed her
fury. Mother came to this place and became soft and merciful. She
created Vak Devathas-deities ruling words- and asked them to sing her praise
with 1000 names. This became the holy Lalitha Sahasranama beginning with
the words, Sri Mathre meaning “Mother of prosperity”.
Pirandai
Nivedhana:
Yama the God of death and the deity of Sadhya Star
worshipped Lord Shiva performing abishek with 1008 conches. These conches
have the power of granting longevity. Yama brought the sacred plant
Pirandai belonging to the creeper category to earth. He offered rice Nivedhana
prepared with this Pirandai to Lord. This is followed now by devotees for
relief from diseases and for longevity.
Practice
of offering anklets to Mother:
There is
something interesting that happened as recently as 1999. A devout woman
from Bangalore had recurring dreams of an Ambal asking her for a gold anklet
(Golusu). This woman went in search of the Goddess and visited various
temples. She chanced upon the issue of “Alayam” magazine in which
Lalithambigai Temple appeared as the cover story and immediately recognized the
Ambal as the one from her dreams. She had the anklet made and visited the
temple. She told the priest of her dreams and wanted the Goddess to be
adorned with the Golusu.
The
priest said that since there is no way for the Golusu to go around her feet, it
would not be possible. On her insistence, the priest decided to give it a try
and to his astonishment, could find a soft spot in the idol’s ankle and he
could actually pass the Golusu through it. Later, it is said that they could
find holes in her nose which is now adorned with mookuthi (nose pin), oddiyanam
(waist belt) around her Waist. Following this incident, now, devotees
seeking wedding, child and education boons offer anklets to Mother
Lalithambika.
Mother
Kali worshipped Lord and Mother here:
Mother Kali had worshipped Lord and Mother here.
