Neelivaneswarar Temple, Thiruppaingneeli – Legends
Then Kailasam South Kailash:
Long ago
Adhiseshan and Vayu Baghwan wanted to find out who is more powerful and
valuable in the world. Adhiseshan rounded the mount Kailash. To release the mount
Kailash, Vayu Baghwan created the very intense storm (cyclone) called “Sanda
Marutham”. Because of the force of the storm, eight peaks of Mount Kailash have
thrown apart from it. They were Thirikonamalai, Thirukalathi
(Kalahasthi), Thiruchiramalai, Thiruengoimalai, Rajathagiri, Neerthagiri,
Rathinagiri and Swethagiri. Out of these eight peaks, Swethagiri is today
called as Thirupaingili. It is also called as South Kailash.
Thirupaingili:
“Jili”
(Kal Vazhai) is a type of banana plant which can’t be eaten by human beings. As
Jili is the temple tree for this temple, this place was called as Forest of Kal
Vazhai and also the village becomes Thirupaingili.
Rebirth of Yama:
This
temple is related to the famous Amirtha Kadeswarar Temple of Thirukkadaiyur. Lord
Shiva kicked the Yama (As per Hinduism Yama is the god responsible for
someone’s death) and killed him to save Markandeya at Thirukkadaiyur. After
Lord Shiva hit Yama the God of Death at Thirukkadaiyur, no deaths occurred in
the world thus increasing the burden on earth to unmanageable level.
Mother
Earth appealed to Lord Shiva of her pain of bearing unbearable weight. On
a Thai Poosam day- Poosam star day during January-February, Lord Shiva made
Yama appear under his feet as a child, instructed him to discharge his duties
with impeccable sense of Dharma and reinstated him in the job. The Yama
shrine in the prakara of the temple represents this event.
Chottrudaya Easwarar:
Saint Thirunavukkarasar
was on his way to worship Lord Gneelivana Nathar. He stood exhausted at a place
due to hunger. A priest appeared before him with rice-Annam or Choru in
Tamil. The priest also assured the saint to lead to the temple but
disappeared on the way. The saint was shocked and prayed to Lord
Shiva.
Lord
granted darshan to Thirunavukkarasar and told him that he was the priest who
helped him. At the request of Thirunavukkarasar, Lord stayed here in the
form of Linga named Chottrudaya Easwarar – God with Rice. This shrine is at the
entrance of the temple separately. This event is celebrated in the temple
on the Avittam star day in Chithirai-April-May.
Mela Chidambaram:
Sage
Vasishta used to worship Lord Chidambaram Nataraja during the Arthajama (night)
puja every day. Once he had to stay in this place as he was late. He
appealed to Lord to grant his dance darshan to him. Obliging his devotee Lord
granted the darshan the sage wished. Remembering this event, Lord Nataraja
is in the temple in a painting before the shrine with Sage Vasishta. Hence,
the place is also revered as Mela Chidambaram.
Saptha Kannikas worshipped Lord Shiva and Mother:
Seven
virgins – Saptha Kannikas – Brahmi, Maheswari, Gaumari, Vaishnavi, Varahi,
Indrani and Chamundi came to this place before their wedding seeking the
darshan of Mother Ambica. Mother appeared before them and said that they
would be married with good matches and enjoys a happy life. Mother also
granted the boon that they would be in the place in the form of plantain trees
enjoying her darshan. Accordingly, they stayed here. Lord Shiva too graced the
place in his Linga form.
Gneelivaneswarar:
There
are many names for Shiva in this temple like Kathali Vasanthar,
Gneelivaneswarar, Paramasambu, Aaraniya Vallavar and Eluthariya Peruman. But
the famous and well-known name is Gneelivaneswarar.
People worshipped Lord Shiva here:
There
are many who have worshipped in this temple. Mahavishnu, Indiran, Kamadenu, Adhiseshan,
Vayu Bhagavan, Agni Bhagavan, Rama, Arjuna, Vashista, Sudhamamunivar, Sapta
Rishis, Musukundha Chola, Kaliyugarama Pandiyan, Saptha Kannikas, Viyakirasuran,
Sivamithiran, Padumakarpan, Sutharman, Ankamithiran are worshipped in this
temple.
Rama worshipped Lord Shiva on Sage Vasishta advice:
As
instructed by Sage Vasishtar, Rama worshipped Shiva here before going to Lanka.