Thursday, September 12, 2019

Kalinga Nardana Krishnan Temple, Oothukkadu – Legends

Kalinga Nardana Krishnan Temple, Oothukkadu – Legends
Kalinga Nardana Krishnan:
This place was full of flower gardens, called as Pushpa Vanam in ancient times. Divine cows, Nandini and Patti, the children of Kamadhenu, were residing in Aavoor and were providing milk to the Lord Shiva of Aavoor Pasupatheeswarar Temple. Every morning, the two would also graze across to the nearby Oothukkadu Village and collect flowers for the Lord from the Pushpa Vanam.
On one such occasion, the two cows listened to Sage Narada’s narration of the story of Lord Krishna and his Kalinga Narthana. Hearing the story of the five years old (Child) Krishna taking on the poisonous asura snake (Kalinga) and performing the Kalinga Narthana, Nandini and Patti are said to have broken out into tears for the hardship imposed on the little boy Krishna.
Worried about her children, Kamadhenu approached Krishna at Vaikunda seeking a solution to her children’s shocked state of mind. Responding to her request, Krishna appeared here at the Pushpa Vanam at Oothukkadu and performed his Kalinga Nardana yet again, with ease, the Kalinga Narthana in front of a delighted Nandini and Patti thus convincing them that this was a child’s play for him.
Wanting all the devotees to enjoy this unique form of Krishna, Narada requested the Lord to be present here at Oothukkadu as Kalinga Nardana. Narada is said to have installed the idol of Krishna as Kalinga Narthana with Nandini and Patti standing on either side of the Lord in front of him and referred to this place as ‘Then Gokulam’.
Venkata Kavi:
Mahakavi Venkatesa Subbhayyar, popularly known as Venkata Kavi, who lived in the 17th century CE spent his entire life in front of the Thulasi Mada composing a number of melodious songs in praise of this deity. Venkata Kavi is believed to be a reincarnation of Sage Naradha who witnessed the Lord’s dance in the village. It is believed that Lord Krishna appeared in person and danced to these melodies. Lord Krishna also performed the entire Kalinga Nardana for the pleasure of Venkata Kavi.
There was a challenge between the two – Kavi should compose the songs as per the dance of the Lord. Any time, when he fumbles, the Lord would turn into an idol. After composing hundreds of compositions, for one particular abhinayam, Kavi struggled to compose and immediately the Lord became an idol. It is also believed that Krishna with Gopis visit this temple every night and people claim that they could hear the sounds of ankle bells.
Other Names of the place:
The place was called as Dhenuswasapuram, Then Gokulam, Moochukkadu,
which later changed to Oothukkadu.