Matrurai Varadeeswarar Temple, Thiruvasi,
Manachanallur – Legends
Sarpa Nataraja:
Kolli
hills was ruled over by ‘Kolli Mazhavan’. His daughter was bitten by a snake.
He treated medically to save his daughter life and found no way. At last he
gave up his hope and left her at the temple step and started praying the
lord. Saint Tirugnanasambandar came to this place during his pilgrimage
and found the girl suffering. The king explained to the saint the sick
story of his daughter and begged him for remedy. Saint Sambandar
sang ten verses (Pathigam) in praise of Lord Nataraja with “Thunivar Thingal”
as the first line.
As he
completed each stanza, he sang “Mangai Vaada mayal seivado ivar maanbu” (“மங்கையை வாட மயல் செய்வதோ இவர் மாண்பு”) which means is it right to make this lady suffer?). Lord
felt so happy and started to dance for his song, and brought back the snake and
made it to take back its venom. Based on this event, Lord Nataraja appears here
with his hair tied and dancing on a serpent. He is praised as Sarpa
Nataraja. This is a rare darshan of the Lord.
Mother married Lord Shiva here:
Once a
business man and a Shiva devotee called Kamalan was childless. One day when he
was going home from the temple he heard a child crying and found a baby in a
lotus flower. He named her Amalai and brought her up. When the child was ready
for marriage, he wanted her to be married to his brother-in-law. Amalai was a
great devotee of Shiva and so wanted to marry Shiva. Shiva came to their house
as Kamalan’s brother-in-law and married Amalai.
After
the marriage, they both left the house saying that they are going to the
temple. After they left, original brother-in-law returned home, only then they
realized something had happened. They went to temple in search of Amalai and
knowing this, Amalai threw her anklet back and it turned to be a river and
started flowing. This river came to be known as Silambu river but its name was
later changed to Panguni river. Amalai was Parvathi Devi herself and Shiva and
Parvathi Devi gave Dharshan to all the people on the Rishaba Vahana.
Mattru Urai Nathar:
Saint
Sundarar used to get gold from Lord Shiva to feed and maintain Shiva devotees
following him. After worshipping the Lord in Tiruvanaikkaa, he came to
this temple and sang in praise of the Lord seeking gold. Lord Shiva kept
mum. Angry Sundarar sang another Pathigam (ten verses) in a loud voice
questioning whether there is one called Lord Shiva. Sundarar got the gold. Yet
he was doubtful about its purity and was closely looking at it. Two men
came there and asked the saint why he was looking at the gold. Sundarar sought
their help in the valuation.
One of
them confirmed the purity of the metal while the other approved it. Both
disappeared instantly. Sundarar sang again saying that he did not mean to doubt
the Lord. Lord appeared before him and said that he alone was the assessor
and his companion was Lord Vishnu. Hence the Lord is named Mattru Urai
Nathar – God who confirmed the touch of gold – Mattru means the touch of the
gold.
Brahmapuriswarar:
As Lord
Brahma is believed to have worshiped the lord here, the lord is also known as
“Sri Brahmapuriswarar”.
People worshipped Lord Shiva here:
It is
believed that Lord Brahma, Goddess Parvathi, Goddess Lakshmi and Sage Agasthiar
have worshipped Lord Shiva of this temple.