Ambaravaneswarar Temple,
Koohur – Legends
Aruntha Mangani Porunthiya Thalam:
During Mahabharata era, there
was a Mango Tree in this Temple. It yields only one fruit once in 12 years.
Sage Durvasa used to eat that mango and continued his penance in this Temple.
This was the routine for many years. Once, Pandavas visited this Temple for
worship along with Draupadi. Draupadi asked Bhima to pluck this mango from the mango
tree. Bheema grabbed the mango tree and shook it so that mango will fall from
tree. He failed. Later, Arjuna, Nakulan and Sahadevan also tried. They also
failed.
Finally, Dharma along with
brothers shook the tree. They met with success this Temple. Pandavas gave the
fruit to Draupadi. On seeing, a sage came and informed them that this tree would
give a mango only in twelve years. This Mango would fall only for Sage Durvasa.
He said it would be good if the mango was placed back to avoid sage Duruvasa’s angry.
The Pandavas and Draupadi were shocked. Dharma prayed to Lord Krishna for
solution.
Lord Krishna advised to put
the mango in the soil and said Each one of you has to tell the truth from your
mind. According to the truthfulness of each one, the fruit will climb to the
top of the tree and eventually stick to the tree when Draupadi is finished. If
you lie, the fruit will not stick to the tree. Pandavas started telling the
truth, Mango started rising towards tree and finally stuck in the tree. Due to
this incident, the place came to be called as Aruntha Mangani Porunthiya Thalam.
Parrot in Durga’s Hand:
There is a parrot in Durga’s
Hand. It is a unique aspect of the Temple. It is believed that if any prayers
made to this parrot, it will convey to Mother and fulfil the wishes.
Ambaravaneswarar:
Once, the place was abundant
with mango trees. Hence the Lord came to be called as Ambaravaneswarar. Even the
Sthala Vriksham of this Temple is also Mango Tree only.
People worshipped Lord Shiva here:
Pandavas, Sage Durvasa and
Chola Kings worshipped Lord Shiva of this temple.