Narthana Vallabeswarar Temple, Thirukoodalaiyathoor – Legends
Lord
Shiva directing Sundarar to this Temple:
As per Hindu legend, Sundarar, while traveling to Vriddhagiriswarar Temple, Vridhachalam forgot this place and asked about the way to the Vriddhagiriswarar
temple to a saint who was going in front of him. The saint directed him to the
Koodalaiytrur temple. Sundarar on reaching the temple realized that the saint
was none other than Shiva himself. Sundarar has made a mention of the event,
calling the deity as Narthana Vallabeswarar.
Place to
pray for learning and memory:
Many students suffer from lack of memory power and are
unable to shine in classes. It is said that even great souls as Sage Agasthya
prayed in this shrine for memory boon. Parents are advised to bring their
children and make them pray seeking memory power. The temple is considered
to be a suitable place to pray for learning and memory.
Nardana
Vallabeswarar:
The place has the reputation of the visit of Goddess of
Wisdom Saraswathi with her Lord Brahmma. They prayed here and had the Nardana
Darshan (dancing) of Lord Shiva, hence the presiding deity is praised as
Nardana Vallabeswarar.
Dakshina
Prayag:
The place is revered as Dakshina Prayag as Manimutharu
and Vellaru rivers confluence here. It flows similar to Prayag from south to
north.
Mahalakshmi
grew here during Varaha Avathaar of Vishnu:
Sage Agasthya had a son named Karthyanan. He also became
a great Rishi as his father. Agasthya prayed for a daughter. The sage
found a girl child playing on the Lotus leaves in Manimutharu river, took the
child and brought her up naming Ambujavalli. Lord Shiva informed her that
she was incarnation of Mother Mahalakshmi. When Lord Vishnu took the Varaha Avatar,
He saw his consort Mahalakshmi as Ambujavalli and had her hands in marriage. There
is a shrine for Lord Vishnu in the Temple.
Chola
King got relieved of Brahmahatti Dosha here:
A Chola king suspected the fidelity of his wife and
killed her and thus incurred the Brahmahatti Dosha – the impact of sin of
murder. He wandered here and there as a lunatic. He saw one day a dog
with skin diseases following him. It fell in a river and came back healthy
and beautiful. The king too followed the dog’s example and got his
relief. He also got back his kingdom and built this temple on the
banks of the confluence of the two rivers and named the place Tiru Koodalai
Attrur meaning the confluence of the rivers. Later this temple was
dilapidated and idols were lost. Mother Goddess appeared in the dream of
the priest and told him of her presence in the river. The priest
discovered the idols and built the present temple.
Thiruveni
Sangamam:
Koodalaiytrur is on the confluence of rivers Vellaru, Manimutharu
and Akaya Ganges (an invisible river), hence the place is known as Koodalaiytrur
and “Thiruveni Sangamam”.
Sages
Vanmiki & Kanva visited this Temple:
It is also believed that Sages Vanmiki and Kanva visited
this temple and worshiped the lord.