Swarnapureeswarar Temple, Koogaiyur – Legends
Swarnapureeswarar:
Once, Lord Guru visited Indra
Loka to meet Lord Indra. Indra was arrogant and very busy in discussion with
Devas. He did not respect Guru for a single instance. Lord Guru got angry and
left Indra Loka. Indra Loka lost its pride without Lord Guru. Lord Indra too
realized his mistake and searched for Lord Guru. Lord Guru was in formless form
worshipping Lod Shiva amidst Amla forest in Koogaiyur. Lord Shiva gave darshan
to Guru. At the same time, Lord Indra too reached the place and worshipped Lord
Guru to forgive his mistakes. Since Lord Shiva gave darshan to Lord Guru, he is
called as Ponparappina Eshwaran or Swarnapureeswarar.
Pancha Bootha Sthalams:
Daksha, father in law of Lord
Shiva conducted Yagna without inviting Lord Shiva. Devas, Rishis and other
celestial beings attended the Yagna. Lord Shiva got angry and demoted all of
them from their divine posts. Later, on the advice of Suga Brahma Rishi, Saptha
Rishis, particularly Sage Vasishta, installed Shiva Lingam on five places on
the banks of Vasishta Nadhi and worshipped Lord Shiva. These five places are
considered as Pancha Bootha Sthalams. This place represents Sky element.
Koogaiyur:
Once, this area was ruled by
Koogai, Local Chieftain. Hence this place is called as Koogaiyur.
Koozhaiyur:
Thirunavukkarasar had
mentioned this place as Koozhaiyur in his hymns. Later Koozhaiyur got corrupted
to Koogaiyur.
Tirumular stayed in a cave here:
Tirumular had stayed in a cave
(Kugai) here and undergone penance in the cave. Hence this place was called as
Koogaiyur.
Lord Shiva brought back the life of the Son of a
Sthapathy:
When the son of the Sthapathy
of this temple died due to snake poison, the Lord of this temple came in the
form a Siddhar and brought the life of the boy.