Prathiyangara Devi Temple,
Ayyavadi – Legends
Prathiyangara Devi blessed Lord Rama during Ramayana
War:
When Ravana progressively lost
all his relatives, including sons, except Indrajit, the latter promised to give
a fitting reply to Rama. Indrajit is known for his reputation in war craft even
against Indira. Indrajit began performing the Nikumbala Yajna at this place to defeat Rama and win the unjust war for his wicked father Ravana. Kings,
to win difficult wars in those days, used to create cremation grounds on eight
directions and conduct the Nikumbala yajna invoking Prathiyangara Devi known as
Atharvana Kali.
Knowing his plans, Lord Sri Rama
too performed special pujas to Devi. Since She had to support only the good
people, when Lakshmanan and Hanuman successfully stopped the Havan, the Mother
did not interfere. Had he completed the Yajna successfully, he would have got
the powers to kill Rama. Mother Prathiyangara Devi knew the purpose of both
sides. She did not want to help Indrajit as his purpose was unjust.
She blessed Lord Rama with
success in the war and in rescuing Mother Sita from the captivity of
Ravana. However, as a mark of her acknowledgement for Indrajit’s prayers,
she ensured that he cornered glory at least during part of the war, before his
eventual death. At least in Tamil Nadu, this Homam is performed to ward off the
ill effects of Black Magic.
Prathiyangara Devi accompanied Lord Shiva to subsidize
Lord Narasimha:
Lord Vishnu took the Narasimha
Avatar to kill the demon king Hiranyakasipu, father of Prahalada. After being
fought so furiously with so much of power to kill the king, the anger and the
fierce of Narasimha didn’t come down. With so much of hyper Narasimha couldn’t
make out between good and bad people and started disturbing everyone and no one
could control him. People prayed Lord Shiva to save them.
Lord Shiva took a new and more
powerful form or Avatar as Sarabeswarar, with lion’s face and eagle’s wings.
Shakthi accompanied Lord Shiva in the form of Maha Prathiyangara Devi seated on
one of the wings of Sarabeswarar. Sarabeswarar went and subsidized Narasimha’s
anger to bring back peace. Hence both Maha Prathiyangara Devi and Sarabeswarar
are believed to be more powerful than any other powers.
Aivar Paadi:
During Mahabharata period, the
Pandavas conducted the Nikumbala Yagam in this place to redeem their kingdom.
As Pancha Pandavas performed the pooja together here, this place came to be
called as Aivar Paadi (Aivar in Tamil means five and Paadi in Tamil means
praised) and later came to be known as Ayyavadi. Pandavas planted a banyan tree
which is even now worshipped as the Temple's Sthala Vriksham. Even now one can
observe the banyan tree having unique five different leaves which is seen only
in this temple.
Prathiyangara:
Prathiyangara and her Moola
Manthram were discovered by 2 Rishis in ancient times, they were Angiras and
Prathyankiras, in whose honour the Goddess assumed the name of Prathiyangara.
She is also known as Aparajita.
Atharvana Vedha:
The Goddess is fully described
in the Atharvana Vedha, as the supreme goddess in the universe. There is a
belief that her name itself might have been derived from Atharva Veda. One
segment of this Veda is Angirasa Kalpam and it deals with black magic. There is
a Gayathri Mantra for worshipping Sri Maha Prathiyangara Devi.
Lord Krishna prayed to Prathiyangara Devi for Child
Boon:
It is believed that Lord Krishna
prayed Prathiyangara Devi here along with his wives and was blessed with the
child Pradyumna
Sage Agasthya worshipped Prathiyangara Devi here:
It is believed that the Sage
Agasthya worshipped the Goddess and gained more power.
Sugriva conducted Nikumbala Yaga here for long life:
It is believed that Sugriva, the
king of Apes received long life defeating death doing Nikumbala Yaga here.
