Nadanapureeswarar Temple,
Thandanthottam – Legends
Sage Agasthya got darshan of Lord Shiva in marriage
posture:
When the sacred marriage of
Lord Shiva and Parvathi took place in Mount Kailash, all the Devas and
Saints came to see it. So, the balance of weight in the Earth was
disrupted and thus the Northern hemisphere arose, and the Southern
hemisphere began to plunge below. Lord Shiva sent Agasthya to the South to
balance the earth. Agasthya was disappointed that he could not see the divine
marriage, hence Lord Shiva promised Agasthiya to give darshan in marriage
form wherever he wished. It is believed Lord Shiva pleased with Agastya’s
worship gave him darshan as Kathyayini Sametha Kalyana Sundarar in this Temple. The
Lord also blessed him with two boons. Accordingly, the obstacles in the marriage
of whoever worships the Lord Nadanapureeswarar here will vanish and all the
obstacles in their life will be eliminated.
Thandanthottam:
The village was earlier called
as Thandavar Thottam (Lord who danced amidst fields) which is now been called
as Thandanthottam.
Mani Kattiya Vinayaka:
The devotees of Lord Shiva,
Sage Agasthya and the other sages wished to watch the dance of Shiva which he
performed in Chidambaram. Lord Shiva accepted the wish and started dancing in
this village which was full of greenery. When he was dancing the beads from the
Salangai (anklet worn during dance) scattered on the field below. Lord Vinayaka
collected the beads one by one and tied it again onto his father's leg. There
is a Vinayaka temple (half a kilometre from Shiva temple) known as Mani Kattiya
Vinayaka.
Lord
Shiva gave darshan to Appar, Sundarar, Sambandar and Manikkavasakar here.
Other
Names:
The
place is also known as Nardhanapuri, Narthanapuram and Thandavapuri.
Kula Devata to Villagers in Palakkad, Kerala:
Once, about 3,000 Brahmins,
who lived in this part of the Chola country migrated to the Palakkad region of
Kerala. While they were leaving, they made Salagrama idols of Lord and Mother
and Mud from this place. Finally, they got settled in Thangai Kadu near
Palakkad. They installed the idols in Thangai Kadu Village and subsequent
generations built a Temple. They forgot their Kula Devata over a period of
time. Suddenly, the women in their families got sudden illness and death.
Due to these tragic events, a
part of villagers went to see Deva Prasannam. Few others came to Kanchi to meet
Kanchi Mahaperiyava to tell their grievances. Mahaperiyava informed about their
Kula Devata in a form of oracle. He informed them about a Temple having
entrances at east and south. But the south entrance is the main entrance. The
temple will have Vilva tree and temple well immediately after the entrance.
This description exactly
matches with Thandanthottam Temple. At the same time, Deva prasannam also
informed the same thing. Villagers were thrilled to hear this information. Then
they came to this place and worshiped. Also, in 1965, Mahaperiyava came to
Thandanthottam, stayed there to conduct his Chathur Masa Viradha and prayed to
Lord Shiva.
