Bala Subrahmanya Temple, Siruvapuri – Legends
Siruvar Ambu Edu:
History
of the temple has that Lava and Kusa, the sons of Rama lived in this place and
prayed to Lord Muruga at this place and got his darshan. Once when Rama was
passing through this place, they have fought a war with Rama himself without
knowing that he was their father. As the young children waged a war here,
the place was called as Siruvar Por Puri. (Siruvar means children, Por Puri
means waging a war, in Thamizh). This place is now called as Chinnambedu, which
originally was Siruvar Ambu Edu (Children who took their arrows for the fight).
Siruvapuri is believed to be the Kusalapuri of Ramayana.
Murugammai, ardent devotee of Lord Muruga:
Some
hundreds of years back there lived a lady called Murugammai in this village.
She had been a very ardent devotee of Lord Muruga here. She always used to
chant His name and praying Him, for years. Her husband who didn't like her
worshipping all the time was warning her to stop it. But she never listened to
him and her husband one day cut her arms off out of anger. Even then,
Murugammai cried for help only with Lord Muruga. The Lord who was pleased with
her bhakti, made her hands join even without the signs of any wound.
Relationship with Devas:
Devas
have taken Amirtha in this place. Devas were given Devendhira-patnam only in
this place. Indra was crowned Devendhran only in this place.
Connection with Ramayana:
This is
the place where the horse of Sri Rama’s Ashwamedha Yaagam was tied. This is the
place where Lakshmana was defeated by Lava and Kusa, bringing Rama. This is the
place where Lava and Kusa fought Rama himself.
Close ties with Thiruvannamalai:
In many
ways this temple is closely tied to that in Tiruvannamalai. The Sthala Vriksham
here is Magizha maram which is also that in Tiruvannamalai. Vallimalai swamigal
was sent here by his Guru Seshadri Swamigal of Tiruvannamalai to spread the Thiruppugazh.
When Arunagirinathar travelled here and sang Murugan's praise, he had a vision
of the Lord appearing on a Mayil similar to his manifestation out of a pillar
in Tiruvannamalai.