Aadhikesava Perumal Temple, Mylapore – Legends
Birthplace
of Peyazhwar:
The temple is believed to be the birthplace of Peyazhwar, one of the first three of the twelve Azhwar saints of the 6th-9th century AD. The legendary
Azhwar was believed to have come to earth from the 60 ft. (18 m) well
called Manikairavam inside the temple premises. One of the weapons of Lord
Vishnu Nandakam the Sword, urged Mahalakshmi to preach the
mantras. Mahalakshmi accepted on condition that the Sword must be born in
the earth, worship Lord Vishnu and then she would
teach. Accordingly, Nandakam was born in the lily flower blossomed
in the Manikairavam Theertham. He was called Mahataahvayar.
He was performing the duty of garlanding the Lord every
day and Lakshmi happily preached him. He came to be known as Peyalvar
because of his immense bhakti to Perumal. Pey means an elderly person.
It is said that he was called so since he was the senior most Alvar. Thirumalisai
Alvar adopted him as his Guru and received his spiritual teachings (upadesam). In the front mandapam of the Perumal’s
sanctum Peyalvar is in a separate sanctum, seated and facing
south. Even now we can see the Manikairavam well where Peyalvar was
born, at a distance near the temple. This was on a Dasami day (Sadayam
asterism) of Aippasi in the year Siddharth of the Dwapara Yuga.
Bell Prayer:
Sage Bhrigu was in tapasya at the banks of Manikairavam Pushkarini,
praying to beget Mahalakshmi as his daughter. Baby Lakshmi crawled in a flower
at the pond, on a Panguni Uthiram day. He brought her up and when she attained
marriageable age, the sage got her married to the Lord Himself. As the daughter
to sage Bhrigu, she is called Bhargavi. She is in a separate sanctum at
the right side of the Lord. Special homam is performed every Friday morning
and she is worshipped with Vilva leaves by chanting the Srisuktam.
This is a very propitious time to worship Thaayar. The
devotees pray to her with Vilva leaves to get relief of the impediments to
marriage, to flourish in studies and remain healthy. They also worship her
by placing two bells at her feet and then hang them on the door of the
sanctum. The belief is that the bells ring and pray to Thaayar for their
pleas. When their prayers are answered, once again they hang two more
bells and thus complete their prayer and offering.
Sarva
Theertham:
Chandran (Moon) worshipped this Lord to be relieved from
a curse. The Lord appeared before him by making all the holy waters flood
here. By taking bath in this water and worshipping the Lord Chandran got
rid of his curse. The Lord asked all waters to stay back in this place. Since
all waters are united and remained in the same place, it came to be known as Sarva
Theertham, and because Chandran was eased out of his curse, it also got the
name Chandra Pushkarini. Now, it is called Chitrakulam.
Maha
Vishnu annihilated Demon Madhu here:
During Tretha Yugam, sages performed Yaagam at the banks
of the Kairavini Pushkarini. The demon Madhu disturbed them from
conducting the Yaagam. The sages then, prayed to Lord Vishnu to kill this demon
and allow them to perform the Yaagam. Lord Vishnu appeared before
them and promised them that he would kill the demon. He directed them to
continue with the Yaagam and so did the sages. The demon came there as
usual to impede their work. Lord Mahavishnu appeared from the Yaagam and
annihilated the demon. Later, as per the sages request he remained in this holy
place. He, in the name of Aadi Kesava Perumal now blesses us all.
People
worshipped Lord Vishnu here:
Saint Bhrigu, Adhithyan, Soorya Kula King Sumanagan, Kabali and Chandran (Moon)
worshipped Lord Vishnu here.
Mother
gave alms to Bikshadana:
When Lord Shiva plucked the fifth head of the
contumacious Brahma, the severed head got stuck in his hands. He was known as
Kapali (the possessor of Kapala or skull). When Bhargavi offered grains to
Brahma Kapala, the head disappeared, thereby relieving Lord Shiva of his
distress. He made Mayurapuri his abode and assumed the name Kapaleeshwarar.
Kairavani
Neerodai:
There was a rivulet that connected Triplicane and
Mylapore several centuries ago. Since the origin of the river was at Kairavini
Pushkarini it came to be called Kairavani Neerodai. The rivulet was full of
fragrant flowers like lily and lotus. The other end of the rivulet was another
holy pond which is now the temple tank of Lord Parthasarathy which is also
called Kairavani Pushkarini.
Aadhi
Kesavan:
Mention about this hallowed spot is found in Brindaranya
Kshetra of Garuda Puranam. Once Mahavishnu mitigated the sufferings of Suryan
who is also called Adhithyan. Since Kesavan blessed Adhithyan he is called Aadhi Kesavan. Aadhi also means first in the world. So
many say this is the first.