Ardhanareeswarar Temple, Elavanasur Kottai – Legends
Ur
Bhagam Kondaruliya Nayanar:
Deivigan, the Malaiyaman Chief, slays the asura Karundan,
who was a brahmin in a previous birth. Because of this, the sin of Brahmahatti attaches
itself to him. To get rid of this sin, he performs a sacrifice and colonizes
four neighboring villages with 400 brahmins and takes 400
other brahmins to this place. However, he finds that there are 400
more still left to be provided for.
When he is unable to solve this problem of housing for
these 400, the Lord of the temple appears before him as a brahmin and
tells him: ‘Gift away this village now. Give one half to
the brahmins and the other half to me alone; then they will be
satisfied’. The Chief does so. The brahmin disappears and reveals himself
as Lord Siva of the temple. From that incident he came to be known as Ur
Bhagam Kondaruliya Nayanar—the. Lord who accepted one half of the village”.
Mada
Kovil:
Kochengat
Chola was a Chola king and one of the 63 Nayanmars (Saivite saints) of Saivism. He is believed to have attained spiritual rebirth
of a spider that fought with an elephant in its previous birth over the worship
of the Hindu god Shiva. He had red eyes during birth as he remained in his
mother’s womb a little longer. His mother, looking into the babies red eyes
said Kochengkannano (in Tamil Ko=king, Cheng=red, Kan=eyes), which literally
means king with red eyes and hence he was named Kochengat Cholan. After
becoming a king, he followed Saivism and built 70 Maadakovils, temples
with elevated structure where elephants cannot reach the sanctum, in the Chola
empire. It is believed that this is one of the temple built by him.
Rajaraja
Chola built this Temple:
When Rajaraja Chola was going to war with his army
through this place, he heard noises from the bushes on his path. He was moving
towards the direction of noise by cutting the bushes located on his way with
his sword by sitting in his horse itself. Suddenly his sword touched the Shiva
Lingam present on the push. Blood started to ooze out from the Lingam. Rajaraja
realized his mistake and begged Lord Shiva to forgive him. Lord instructed him
to build a temple. As per Lord advice, Rajaraja Chola built this temple.
People
worshipped Lord Shiva here:
Indhra and Sage Mrugandu worshipped Lord Shiva here.
Names:
The place was called as Chola Kerala Chathurvedhi
Mangalam, Arasavanam, Neeretrapuri, Iraiyanaraiyur, Iraisai, Iraivasanallur and
Ilanasur.
Elavanasur
Kottai:
The area was ruled by Mir Hussain Khan under Arcot
Nawab. There was a fort in this area during this period. Hence, this place was
called as Elavanasur Kottai.
Iraivasanallur
Thala Puranam:
Legends related to this Temple has been mentioned in
Iraivasanallur Thala Puranam written by Purana Thirumalai Nathar.