Vadaranyeswarar Temple, Thiruvalangadu – Legends
Oordhva
Thandavam:
The legend is that two demons - Sumban and Nisumban had
worshiped Lord Shiva to seek his blessings. Impressed by their rigorous
penance, Lord Shiva gave them a blessing that every drop of their blood that
fell on the ground would turn into a lingam. Having sought Lord Shiva’s
blessings, these two demons started terrorizing the celestial gods who in turn
complained to Lord Shiva. Lord Shiva asked Goddess Parvathi to create “Bathra
Kali” and this Kali was advised to go to Thiruvalangadu to destroy the demons.
Mother Parvathi created a furious Kali and destroyed the demons. Kali consumed the blood
of the demons and their army and grew more furious. However, since she had
drunk the blood of the demons, she started losing control of her senses and
started acting like a demon herself. She started terrorizing the celestial
gods, who one again sought Lord Shiva’s intervention in this matter. To solve
this problem, Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvathy came to this place.
Kali who was not in control of her senses, started
fighting with Lord Shiva. Lord Brahma, Lord Mahavishnu and Rishi Naradhar
intervened and made them accept a dance competition instead of a fight, which
the duo agreed to perform. It is believed that the dance performance was
witnessed by Goddess Parvathy, Rishi Naradhar, Sage Munjikesa (Sage Anantha)
and serpent Karkodaka. Lord Brahma and Lord Mahavishnu are believed to
have provided music for their dance.
Lord Shiva performed 17 types of dances which Kali also
repeated. Finally, Lord Shiva played his “Oordhva Thandavam” – a dance with
very fast movements. Lord Shiva intentionally dropped his right earring on the
ground, stood on his right leg, picked up the earring with the toe of his left
leg and wore it again during the dance itself. Kali could not repeat this
movement and admitted her defeat.
Goddess Parvathy, who was astonished to watch this
performance is praised here as “Arukilirunthu Viyantha Nayaki” (goddess who
witnessed the spectacular dance performance). The lord here is praised as
“Andamura Nimirntharuliya Nayanar” as he performed the Oordhva Thandavam. Kali
was very angry to accept her defeat.
To appease her anger, Lord Shiva told her that he would
be performing a pleasing dance – “Raksha dance” at Thiruvirkolam temple and she
could have his dharisanam there. Lord Shiva said that he alone was equal to her
and said further that those coming to worship him here, should worship her
first to reap the full benefit of the worship. Since then, Kali has her own
temple to grace the devotees.
Pancha
Sabha:
Legend has it that when the Lord was once entranced in a
deep cosmic dance, the jewels from the Lord's anklets fell onto the earth and
scattered in 5 places, Thiruvalangadu being one of them.
Vadaranyeswarar:
According to the legend, in ancient times this region
was a forest densely covered with banyan trees (Aalamaram in Tamil). It is
believed that a Swayambu Lingam was discovered under a banyan tree. Later a
temple was constructed and the lord was named as “Vadaranyeswarar” (Vadam
meaning banyan tree, Aranyam meaning forest and the Easwar represents Lord
Shiva).
Devarsingaperuman:
Celestial gods (Devas) are also believed to have
worshiped the lord of this temple, he is also praised as “Sri
Devarsingaperuman”.
Karaikal Ammaiyar:
Lord Shiva’s dance here was also witnessed by one of his
great devotees, Saint Karaikal Ammaiyar. She is also one of the 63 Nayanmars.
It is said that she went to Mount Kailash by walking upside down on her head to
see Lord Shiva. The lord addressed her as “Mother” (Amma in Tamil) and advised
her to go to Thiruvalangadu to see his dance. She came to see the lord in this
temple but a Shiva lingam started appearing wherever she put her foot. To give
respect, she decided to again walk upside down on her head. She witnessed the
dance performance of Lord Shiva, rendered her pathigam (hymn) and attained
salvation in this temple itself. It is believed that her last resting place was
at the feet of Lord Natarajar. Since her pathigams are prior to the Moovars
Devaram, they are called “Mootha Thiru Pathigam”.
Thiru Gnanasambandhar:
Another legend associated with this place is that since
Karaikal Ammaiyar had walked on her head at this place, Saint Thiru Gnanasambandhar
was afraid to set his foot on the soil. Not wanting to show any disrespect
towards Karaikal Ammaiyar, he decided to stay in a nearby village and spent the
night there without visiting this temple. However, Lord Shiva of this temple
appeared in his dream and asked if he had forgotten to praise him. Next morning,
he visited this temple and rendered a pathigam in which he mentioned about the
“Neeli story” and God’s reminder to praise him.
Neeli Story:
Another legend associated with this place is that of a
lady called “Neeli”. It is believed that she was killed by her husband as he
had suspected her of infidelity. After her death, she could not move on to her
next birth and started roaming around this place in the form of a ghost.
Incidentally, in his next birth, her husband was travelling through this place.
Seeing her former husband, Neeli decided to seek revenge. She assumed the form
of his present wife and wanted to go with him. He was surprised to see his wife
here, he sensed that something was wrong and he refused to let her accompany
him.
Neeli went to the locals (velalars) and complained that her
husband was abandoning her. The locals interfered and asked him to stay with
her at a nearby place and travel with her the next morning. He tried explaining
to them that she might not be his wife but they refused to his pleas. Instead
they vouched for his safety by saying that if anything were to happen to him,
they would also give up their lives.
As soon as they went inside the house that the locals
had given to them, Neeli took her original form of a ghost and killed him. In
the morning when the locals found him dead, they decided to end of their lives
and keep the promise that they made to him. The legend is that 70 velalars gave
up their lives by self-immolation (Theekuliyal in Tamil). It is also believed
that Lord Shiva gave salvation to all of them.
It is interesting to note that the old Tamil proverb
“Neeli Kanneer” (crocodile tears) originated from this story only. The hall
where these velalars gave up their lives can still be seen near the Saatchi Boodeshwarar
temple in Pazhayanur (at about one 1 Km from Thiruvalangadu temple). It is said
that the heirs of those velalars still go to Thiruvalangadu temple for worship
and for offering their services.
Mantheeswarar:
Another legend is that Sani Bhagwan (Saturn) advised his
son, Mantheeswarar who had accrued a sin (Dosham) when a lizard fell on him, to
go to Thiruvalangadu and worship Lord Shiva there. Pleased with his penance,
Lord Shiva appeared before him and blessed him by absolving the sin.
Bharata Muni
prayed Lord Shiva for progeny:
The most ancient legend has it that, Bharata Muni and
his spouse Subhadra prayed in this Thiruvalangadu village for progeny, after
taking bath in the Puthrakameshwarar Theertham.
People
worshipped Lord Shiva here:
It is believed that Lord Murugan, Goddess Lakshmi, Karkotaka,
Sage Sunanda and Saint Tirumular have worshiped Lord Shiva in this temple.