Rathnagiriswarar Temple,
Ayyarmalai – Legends
As per Hindu mythology, Adisesha
and Vayu had a heated argument about their superiority. Lord Indra intervened
and proclaimed them to prove their strength. The final verdict was followed,
Adisesha should carry the Mount Meru with his thousand heads and Vayu should
tear apart the Mount Meru with his strength. Vayu with all his strength blew
off Mount Meru, as a result it’s divided into five parts and each part was
fallen as precious Gems such as Emerald, Ruby, Diamond, Coral and Sapphire on
the different places of the Earth.
These sacred lands were turned
out prominent worship places of Lord Shiva. The places where Coral landed on
Earth came to be known as Thiruvannamalai, Ruby landed as Ratnagiri, Emerald as
Engoi Malai, Blue Sapphire as Pothikai and Diamond landed as Kodumudi. Thus,
Ratnagiri hill and the presiding deity Lord Ratnagirinathar were originated
during this mighty process.
Slaying of Andakasuran:
As per another
legend, Shiva was waging a war to destroy the demon
Andakasuran. Since fresh replicas of the demon were coming from the blood
spilt, Shiva created Yogeswari from the flames coming out of his
mouth. The Sapta Kannikas created by the power of the Trimurtis, Skanda,
Indra and Yama added their power to Yogeswari so that the blood of the demon
was swallowed before falling and the Asura was destroyed. In view of this,
worshipping the Yogeswari with the Sapta Kannikas, is important in this temple
and their shrine is inside a cave in the hill.
Indra worshipping Lord Shiva here daily:
It is still believed that Indra
used to come and worship Lord through 9 holes opposite to Moolavar in the form
of thunder & lightning. To prove that the garland and vastra of
Moolavar can be seen burnt on the next day even these years. The abishekam
milk will turn to curd.
As per mythology, a King from
North came to this place in search of gem stones (Rathinam). The Lord took
the form of a Brahmin and asked the King to fill a tub with Cauvery water and
take bath. Despite his best efforts, the King could not fill the tub. The
King became angry and hit against the Brahmin. The Lord appeared before
the King and stopped the sword (in Tamil Vaal means sword and pokki means
remove) and gave darshan and the gem stone. Since Shiva stopped the vaal, the
place is known as Vaal pokki (in Tamil, Vaatpokki) and as the Rathinam was
given, He is known as Rathnagiriswarar. Even today, the scar mark due to
the sword is seen on the Lingam.
Vairagya Perumal:
A devotee, Vairagya Perumal of
Kancheepuram vowed to offer his head to Rathnagreeswarar if he got a child.
When his wish was fulfilled, he came to this place and cut his head. While
the feet stayed in the foot hills, the head reached the top of the
hill. The idol of this head is anointed with milk and honey and the garland
offered to the Lord is later put on this idol.
No Crow fly over this hill:
The other surprise here is, that
no crow flies on the hill. Tradition has it that once a crow upset the milk
bowl of a devotee and got burnt. From then no crow flies on the hill.
Ayvar Malai:
The five pandavas were believed
to have stayed here briefly during their exile hence it is called as Ayvar (In
Tamil means 5 people) Malai (Means hill).
Ponnidum Parai:
On the way up the hill the
Ponnidum Parai, Where Sage Sundarar got the gold from Lord Shiva. It is
believed Shiva’s Paadham is at Ponnidum Paarai.
Meditation place:
It is believed that rishis are
meditating in the hill, to prove that there are number of natural caves in this
hill shrine.
Sage Agastya worshipped Lord Shiva here:
It is also believed that the
sage Agasthiya worshipped at this temple on the way to Podhigai.
Snake Bit:
It is a belief that If snakes
present in this hill bit also doesn’t cause harm to the devotees.
People worshipped Lord Shiva here:
Indra, Vayu, Surya, Durga,
Saptha Kannikas, Adi Shesha, Sage Agastya, Sage Romesa and Jayanthan had
worshipped Lord Shiva here.