Pattinathar Temple, Thiruvotriyur – Legends
Once, a couple Sivanesar and
Gnana Kamalambigai, staunch Shiva devotees lived in Kaviripoompattinam, the
capital of Chola kingdom. They had a son with the blessings of Lord Shiva named
Thiruvenkadar, a Shiva devotee. He was in marine trade. When 16, he married
Sivakalai. They had no children though years rolled by. Thiruvenkadar continued
his prayers to Lord Shiva for a son. There also lived a couple devoted to Lord
Shiva, Shivasarumar and Susheelai to whom Lord Shiva himself was born in the
name of Marudavanar.
As the couple spent all their
days in the service of the Lord, they could not bring up the boy due to poverty
also. Lord Shiva appeared in their dream and advised to give the boy in
adoption to Thiruvenkadar. Lord advised Thiruvenkadar too in his dream to
accept the boy. The adoption was carried as ordered by the Lord. Marudavanar
also followed the marine trade of his adopted father. Once, on his return from
the trade, Marudavanar left a box to his mother and left the house.
When Thiruvenkadar opened the
box to see the earnings of the son, he was shocked to see only some cakes made
of husk and a note reading, “even a broken needle would not accompany a soul
during the last journey”. Thiruvenkadar caught the lesson. He prayed to Lord
Shiva seeking salvation and renounced his wealth and family life. Lord told him
that he would get it at an appropriate time. Thiruvenkadar began his pilgrimage
to Shiva shrines.
As he was born in
Kaviripoompattinam, he came to be known as Pattinathar. While at Kasi, he
accepted Badragiri the king of the place as his disciple. Both were staying in Thiruvidaimarudur
for a while. Lord Shiva granted salvation to Badragiri there. When Pattinathar
begged the Lord, he gave him a sugar cane and said that he would be getting his
due when and where the sugar cane tastes sweet. After a long pilgrimage,
finally, Pattinathar came to this place and found the sugarcane tasting sweet. He
stayed there.
Pattinathar used to amuse
people by performing some miracles. For example, he would get into a pit in one
place and come out in another place. One day, he asked some boys to place over
him a big vessel covering his entire body. When everyone expected that he would
come out at some other place, it didn't happen so. When they removed the
vessel, they found an idol of Shiva Linga instead of Pattinathar. Everybody
realized that Pattinathar got transformed into a Shiva Linga. Thus, Pattinathar
got salvation here. The temple was built at this place then.
It is said that the relatives
including his wife came to the spot where Pattinathar attained mukthi and
offered their devotion. There are two siddhars one Pattinathar and the second Vallalar
are the only saints who have not left any mortal remains of the body.
Pattinathar has given us his experience and wisdom in the form of hymns. His
works include Thirukazhumala Mummanikkovai, Thiruvidai Marudhur Mummanikkovai,
Thiruvegambamudaiyar Tiruvandadhi and Thiruvotriyur Orupa Orupadhu.