Kurungaleeswarar Temple, Koyambedu – Legends
Kusalavapureeswarar:
The legend of this temple connects to Ramayana period. After
fourteen years of life in forest and winning Ravana in the battle, Sri Rama returned
to Ayodhya and took charge of the kingdom. During that time, a washerman spoke
ill of Mother Sita about her fidelity. Rama, bowing to gossips, sent Sita to the
woods where she gave birth to the twins Lava and Kusa in sage Valmiki’s ashram.
The twin grew without knowing that Rama was their father. The young boys were
trained by Sage Valmiki in archery and academics.
In the meantime, Lord Rama performed an Ashvamedha Yaga
in Ayodhya. The horse of the Ashvamedha Yaga came to the place where the brothers
were living. Lava and Kusa caught the horse and bound it. Shatrugna, the last
brother of Lord Rama demanded the horse which the youth refused. They won their
uncle Shatrugna in battle and also Lakshmana who followed Shatrugna.
When Rama heard about the defeat of his brothers by two little
children and the capture of the sacrificial horse. Lord Rama himself came looking
after the children. The children without knowing that he was their father,
started fighting him. When Rama tried to shoot the children with his Rama Bana,
Sage Valmiki intervened and informed Lord Rama that the children were his kids.
Having opposed the father, Lava and Kusa had to incur
Pitru Dosha (the effect of opposing the parents) and got relieved of the Dosha
by worshipping Lord Shiva in this place as directed by sage Valmiki. The deity
came to be known as Kusalavapureeswarar. Since, the Linga was very small in
size, it is also called as Kurungaleeswarar.
Kurungaleeswarar:
Vana Durga Kali Devi worshipped Lord Shiva here and
hence he is also known as Kurungaleeswarar. There is a separate temple for Vana
Durga Devi nearby also.
Adipradhoshapuri:
During the Samudra Mathanam or churning of the Parkadal
or Milky ocean, Alahala Visham / Halahala poison emerged which frightened the
Devas. Devas approached Lord Shiva and Nandhi Deva brought the Alahala Visham
to Lord Shiva. Lord Shiva Drank the poison and saved the worlds from
destruction. Parvathy Devi through her Pathivratha Shakthi touched the neck / kanta
of Lord Shiva and arrested the poison there. Hence Lord Shiva is known as
Neelakanta.
Nandhi Deva became proud that he had brought the Poison
to Lord Shiva and it did not affect him. This sin of Nandhi Deva made him mad
and he started laughing wildly like a mentally affected person. Parvathy Devi
took pity on him and brought him to Koyambedu and pulled the Mookan kayiru or
rope that is tied around the Nandhi / Bull through her leg. Hence Parvathy Devi
known as Dharmasamvardhini here is seen with one leg brought forward here.
Lord Shiva danced in between the horns of Nandhi Deva
during Pradosha kalam and the world's first Pradosham was celebrated in this
temple. This temple is said to have had the first pradosha pooja ever performed
here and is hence called Adipradhoshapuri. Pradhosha Dharshan here is
considered equivalent to 1000 Pradhosha Dharshans.
Other Names:
It is also said that the names of this place in ancient
days were as Kosai Nagar, Koyattipuram and Prayachithapuram.