Gangadareswarar Temple, Purasaiwakam – Legends
Gangadareswarar:
As Lord Shiva held the river Ganga on his head when it
was falling from heaven to the earth, the Lord got the name Gangadareswarar. It
is believed that the king Bhagirath who was trying to bring the river Ganga to
the earth prayed to Lord Shiva and only then Shiva let the Ganges to flow down
from his head. It is also believed that the site where the temple is located
today is where the king Bhagirath prayed to Lord Shiva.
Bhagirath
installed his 1008th Linga here:
As per another legend, the king Bhagirath got a curse.
As per the advice from the saint Narada, he installed 1008 Shiva Lingas in
various places. The site where he installed 1008th Shiva Linga is
the current day's Gangadareswarar temple. It is also believed that the place
where he spilled Ganga water was formed as the temple tank.
Purasaiwakam:
This area gets its name from the Purasai
(Palasha) tree, or Flame of the Forest, which must once have grown in
abundance here. Perhaps it was a sacred grove of these trees. Our ancients knew
it had a number of medicinal uses other than religious significance and wanted
to preserve it. Alas, there is but
one Purasai tree here today. Luckily, it is the sacred tree of the Gangadareswarar
temple and, being inside its precincts, is well protected. Hence this place
came to be called as Purasaiwakam.