Somanatha Pashana Lingeswarar Temple, Timiri – Legends
In the
history of Vijayanagara Empire, Thimmi Reddy and Bommi Reddy, who were ruling
with Vellore fort as Headquarters, were noteworthy kings. Their descendent,
Sadhashivaraya did many good deeds in Divakarayar Ellai, a rural location next
to Arcot in those days. In his rule, there was a wide spread epidemic, due to
which people suffered a lot. Being very pious and caring, the King
Sadhashivaraya discussed this with 'Raja Panditha Sironmani, Manthira Vaidhya
Kesari' Kannika Parameswara Andhanar, who was the Raja vaidhyar (doctor) of his
kingdom.
Vaidhyar,
on Dhanavanthri methods, used 5 Chandra Pashanams, to make a lingam, called Somanatha Eswara Pashana Lingam. Chandra Pashanams
are related to moon and the rays of moon will induce them to have better
medicinal effect. The lingam measured 6 inches in height. Interestingly,
Timiri, is name of one of the Pashanams used to make this Lingam. In the Tamil
month of Thai's Arudhra star of 1379 A.D., the lingam’s Pradhishta was carried
out inside the Timiri fort by Sringeri Mutt’s 12th Shankaracharya,
Shri Vidhyaranya Swamigal.
Since
the lingam was made on both Agama and Siddha medicine rules, the Abhisheka Theertham
served the purpose of curing diseases. Owing to the fame of lingam, the area
which was known as Divakarayar Ellai, was renamed as Timiri. Later, when Arcot Nawab
invaded this area, the Vellore Fort was also captured. The Muslims plundered
temples and other sacred places in this area. Kannika Parameswarar protected
his rare and special Pashana lingam from the invaders as follows. He smeared
beeswax on the lingam, placed it inside a tortoise shaped shield made with
special chemicals.
The
Lingam and the shield were placed within a triangular box that was created with
geographic principles and hid it in the temple tank in the year 1454 A.D. The
Royal medicine man rushed along with his group to the border of Kanchipuram to
escape from being captured by the invaders. The Muslim soldiers, who heard
about their escape from the spies, captured them and brought them to Sri Renugambal
temple at Aanaimalloor near Timiri. They were killed by letting an elephant
step on them.
At the
time of being trampled by the elephant, Kannika Parameswarar swore on Lord
Shiva that if at all he has another birth he will rescue the lingam and will
reinstall it. In modern day Timiri, there were efforts to build an Ayyappan
Temple. There was not much progress even after strenuous efforts. On this note,
Mr. A.S. Radhakrishnan Reddiyar, who was head of the committee constructing the
temple, visited Thanjavur and got directions in Nadi regarding this Lingam in
temple tank, took it outside on 14th June 1985.
He has
been doing poojas since then. It is a wide spread belief, that he was the
Vaidhyar in his previous birth, who made this Lingam. With this, Timiri Pashana Lingeswarar became second best Pashana structure,
only next to Palani Murugan. Any known Pashana structure in world, falls only
after these two in quality.