Agneeswarar Temple, Thirukattupalli – Legends
Agneeswarar:
Once all the Devas assembled here and prayed to the
Lord. Agni Bhagavan had a special request since he burns all the evils of the
devotees who perform homams, he had to carry their sins. He is also blamed
as anything touched by him is charred. He requested the Lord to give him
relief. Pleased with his prayers, Lord asked him to dig a well (Agni Theertham)
and use that water to perform abishekam. When Agni did it, all his burdens
disappeared and he became pure again.
He was also given the boon that henceforth he would not
be burdened with the sins of the devotees. Hence the Lord is called
Agneeswarar. Since the Tamil name for Agni is Thee, he is also known as Theeyaadiyappar. Hence
the place is called Agneeswaram. The devotees bathe on Sundays in the
month of Karthikai (November-December) in Agni theertha and on Masi Magam
(February-March), Panguni Uthiram (March-April) and Vaikasi Visakam (May-June)
and attain blessings.
Destruction
of Woraiyur:
A king who ruled Woraiyur gave two Sevvanthi flowers
that flowered in his garden to his two wives. The younger wife at Woraiyur took
it for herself whereas the elder wife at Thirukkattupalli offered it to Lord
Shiva. So, it is said that Woraiyur was destroyed due to rain whereas
Thirukkattupalli didn’t face any such destruction.
People
worshipped Lord Shiva here:
Lord Vishnu, Lord Brahma, Suryan, Agni, Bageeradhan and
queen of Urayur worshiped Lord Siva here and were blessed by him.
