Veerattaneswarar Temple, Thiruvathigai – Legends
Thiripura
Samharam:
This Shivasthalam is one of the Atta Veerattana
Sthalams of Lord Shiva where he vanquished the Thiripura demons (Thiripura
Samharam). Three wicked demons, Tharukakshan, Kamalakshan and Vidyunmali
performed severe penance on Lord Brahmma and obtained powerful boons that would
keep them ever alive without death. With this boon, they began to harass the
Devas and others. All of them appealed to Lord Shiva for protection. Lord Shiva
made earth his Rath, Sun and Moon the wheels, Brahmma the charioteer and the
Devas, his army.
He made a bow of the Meru Mount, Vasuki the serpent the
chord, Vishnu the bow with Agni (fire) the sharp point and mounted on the Rath.
Suddenly, the axis of the Rath broke. Immediately, prayers were offered to Lord
Vinayaka for the remedy. Lord began the March. Devas accompanying the Lord
thought that Lord would win the war with their help only. Realizing their
pride, Shiva used no weapons on the enemies. He simply laughed at them. A fire
ball came out of his laughter and reduced the demons to ashes.
Realizing their folly, Devas bowed down their heads in
shame. The arrogance of both the demons and the Devas were destroyed
simultaneously by the Lord. Lord pardoned two demons and made them his security
guards-Dwarapalakas. One became player of his Kudamuzha instrument. This is the
story celebrated as Tiripura Samharam.
Reason
behind three lines of ash worn by all Shaivites:
Legend holds that this temple is the place where Shiva
destroyed three rakshasas and
the three cities created by them. Sara Narayana Perumal, another name of Vishnu, is the one who gave the arrow to Shiva for killing the
demons. Shiva Purana details
the legend of destruction of the demon Tripuran, who was ruling Tripura. The
destruction is detailed as a cosmic event, which most attribute to the
destruction of stars, meteors and unexplained material bodies. Tripuran
attacked all the celestial deities who sought the help of Shiva to protect
them. Shiva after a fiery fight, destroyed Tripuran and attained the name Tripuranthaka.
Shiva made the city Tripura into ashes and dipped his three fingers in the
ashes, which signifies the three lines of ash which is worn by all Shaivites on
their forehead.
Association
with the life of Thirunavukkarasar:
This Shivasthalam is associated with the life of
Thirunavukkarasar. In the earlier part of his life, Thirunavukkarasar was known
as Vaageesar. Though born to Saivite parents and brought up by his Shiva
devotee sister Tilakavathy, Marul Neekiar – that was his baptism name –
embraced Jainism and rose to Guruhood there with the name Darmasenar. He
was a follower of Jainism during the early part of his life and gave lectures
in support of Jainism. His elder sister Tilakavathy was an ardent follower of
Lord Shiva at Thiruvathigai and wanted her brother to become a Shiva devotee.
She prayed to Lord Shiva daily for the fulfillment of
her desire. Vageesar was afflicted with an incurable disease and suffered a
lot. At this juncture, he came to Thiruvathigai to visit his sister. Tilakavathy
convinced her brother that he will be cured of his disease by praying to Lord
Shiva. Vageesar visited the shrine of Lord Shiva at Thiruvathigai and composed
Pathigams worshipping him and requesting Lord Shiva to free him from the
immense suffering.
At the instance of Lord Shiva, Vageesar took a dip in
the well situated in the north prakaram and drank the water from the well.
Vageesar was completely cured from his disease. It was Lord Shiva who called
Vageesar by the name of Navukarasan for the first time. Since then Vageesar was
known as Thirunavukkarasar. There is a separate Sannadhi for Appar and
Thilagavathiyar.
Lord
granted wedding darshan to Appar:
This is also the land where Lord granted darshan to
Appar in Wedding form, hence weddings are conducted in the temple.
Sundarar
did not enter this Temple:
As per another legend, Sundarar, another saint poet, did not enter the temple as it was
already praised by Appar. He was sleeping outside the temple where an old man
stepped on his head. Sundarar avoided him and turned his head toward other
direction, but the old man still stepped on his head. Sundarar wanted to know
who the old man was when Shiva appeared in his true form in front of him. The
temple called Siddapureeswarar near Panruti is associated with the legend.
Tradition
of breaking the coconut:
The tradition of breaking the coconut in the ground (Sitharu
Thengai ") has come from this temple only.
Legend
behind the Temple design as Rath:
Indira the king of Devas, Lords Brahmma and Vishnu,
Pandavas the five brothers, Saptha Rishis (seven sages), Vayu the God of Wind,
Varuna the God of Rain, Yama the God of Death came to this temple in their
chariots to worship Lord Veerattaneswarar. Hence, the temple is designed as
Rath.
Model
for Thanjavur Big Temple Gopuram:
Thanjavur Peria Koil (Big Temple) Vimana was planned
after this temple by Rajaraja in the temple he fabricated at Thanjavur. The
temple is planned with such scientific exactness by the Pallavas that the
temple's shade does not fall on the ground.