Tiruvalleeswarar Temple, Tiruvalidhaayam, Padi – Legends
Guru
Dosha Nivarthi Sthalam:
Planet Jupiter incurred a curse of Menaka, wife of his
elder brother. As advised by Rishi Markandeya, he reached this place, had
a dip in the sacred spring and worshipped Lord Shiva and gained relief from the
curse. It is the faith of the devotees that praying to Jupiter in this
temple would be an effective remedy for relief from sins. This temple is
believed to be Guru Dosha Nivarthi Sthalam.
Valithayam:
Bharadhwaja, son of Jupiter was born as the son of a
sparrow – Kari Kuruvi – also Valian in Tamil. Saddened by his birth as a
sparrow, he worshipped Lord Shiva in many sacred places. When he came to
this place, he found a Shivalinga under a Kondrai tree and worshipped him. Lord
Shiva appeared before Bharadhwaja and made him the leader of birds. Based
on this story, the place is called Valithayam and the Lord Valianathar.
Vinayaga
married Kamali and Valli here:
According to mythology, Lord Brahma's two daughters
Kamali and Valli wished to marry Lord Shiva. Knowing that their wish is very difficult
to be fulfilled, Lord Brahma sent them to worship Lord Shiva on the banks of
river Paalaru. Shiva, being pleased with their penance, appeared before them
and told them that it is not possible for them to marry him as he is already
married to Parvathi and advised them to marry Lord Ganapathy. Accordingly, Lord
Ganapathy, after conquering the demon king Gajamukhasuran, came to Tiruvalidhaayam
and married Kamali and Valli. This is supported by the procession idol of Lord
Vinayaka in this wedding form.
Storage
Place for Weapons:
This village had been a storage place of weapons during
the war times. Such places used by the kings for storing weapons were called as
Paadi Veedu in ancient days. Also the kings, before starting to the battlefield
pick up their weapons from such Paadi Veedus and worship Sri Kaali and proceed
to the battle. Hence the place could have become to known as Paadi in later days.
As there is also a Padai Veettu Amman temple nearby this temple, which is
believed to have been worshipped by the ancient kings.
People
worshipped Lord Shiva here:
Jupiter(Guru), Lord Rama, Lava, Kusa, Manmadan, Agasthya, Yama,
Vayu, Surya, Moon, Indra, Valiyan, Sage Bharadhwaja and Hanuman are believed to have worshipped the lord here.
Vishnu
worshipped Lord Shiva here:
Lord Thirumal in the name of Kesavaperumal
worshipped this shrine to rid him of sins attained through killing
Sage
Agasthiyar worshipped Lord Shiva here:
After killing Vathapivilvalan sage Agasthiyar worshipped
and performed penance to rid the sin.
Lord
Brahma attained Mukthi here:
Lord Brahma is said to have attained mukthi here after
worshipping Valithayanathar.
