Thanjapureeswarar Temple, Thanjavur – Legends
As per the legend, a son named Pulasthya was born from the mind power of Creator Brahma – Manasa Puthra. Vishrawas was then born to Pulasthya. Though belonging to the Rishi tradition, Vishrawas married a demon lady Kekasi whose heritage is noted for cruel qualities. She delivered two sons Ravana and Kumbhakarna and a daughter Surpanakha representing cruelty. She also delivered Vibhishana and Kubera then. Ravana and Kubera were Shiva devotees.
Vibhishana was a Vishnu devotee. Kumbhakarna was devotee of his great-grandfather Brahma. Surpanakha was the wicked one without any soft quality only searching for men to quench her physical lust. Ravana, through a Shiva devotee, was a womanizer. Kumbhakarna was a glutton. Kubera and Vibhishana were exceptional cases noted for their character of highest standards. They had no trace of any demon qualities in them. Ravana had the boon from Lord Shiva that he would not be killed by anyone except by a human.
Kubera, by virtue of his devotion to Lord Shiva, became the ruler of North. Lord Shiva placed all the wealth of the world in Kubera’s charge with instructions that it be distributed among those working hard honestly and according to their fates. Mother Mahalakshmi acquired eight powers as wealth, food crops, progeny etc. She entrusted her powers to two youths Sanganidhi and Padmanidhi whom Kubera appointed as his accountants. These two had their seats on either side of Kubera. Divine sculptor Mayan constructed a special city for them named Alagapuri.
Also, a palace was built for them with a court hall of exceptional aesthetic beauty where Kubera is seated in all royal paraphernalia. If the devotee suffering from poverty is free of any sin, he would be elevated to high wealthy status instantly. Sanganidhi is on the left of Kubera holding a conch and Padmanidhi on the right with a lotus on hand both symbols of prosperity. They are the two recommending boons to people based on their fate. Due to the internal feud, Kubera lost his kingdom and treasure to his half-brother Ravana. Kubera started visiting various Shiva temples to get back his glory.
He visited this temple which was a small temple then. It is said he did not have to visit anymore temple after this. As Kubera surrendered to Lord Shiva here, Shiva is called as 'Thanjapureeswarar'. The Lord Thanjapureeswarar meaning the Lord offers asylum to those surrender to him. The town was also named after the deity as Thanjavur. The Lord is also known by the name Kuberapureeswarar as he was worshipped by Kubera. It was believed that Kubera got all his treasures on new moon day in the month of October. So, every year in the month of October on new moon day, Kubera Yagna is done.