Janagai Narayana Perumal Temple, Sholavandan – Legends
Cholavandan:
There is
a popular local myth, that a war between Chola and the Pandya kingdoms, resulted in the name. The
invading Chola king, apparently got a sense of reverence and awe, seeing the
intensive agriculture and scenic beauty of the village, irrigated by the Vaigai
river; which reminded him of the Cauvery
Delta region. He abandoned the war.
The town was then named as Cholavandan (Cholan+Uvandan). Uvandan means getting
awed, in Tamil. The place reminded him agriculturally prosperous
famous Tanjore villages: and called this town as Chinna Thanjai.
Janaka Narayana Perumal:
This is
the place where Sita’s father is believed to have undertaken penance invoking
the blessings of Lord Vishnu to find a bridegroom for his daughter. Answering
his prayers, Lord Vishnu is believed to have provided darshan here to Janaka.
Hence, he is referred to at this temple as Janaka Narayana Perumal.
Relationship between Azhagar & Janaka Narayana
Perumal:
In
centuries gone by, on the same day that Azhagar used to get into the Vaigai at
Thenur about 7 Kms from here, the Lord of Sholavandan too used to get into the
Vaigai here at Sholavandan. Also, in the past, Azhagar and Perumal of
Sholavandan used to go to Nallur, a village between Thiru Maliruncholai and
Sholavandan in a special Alankara. Hence that place has come to be known as
Alanka Nallur.
