Tuesday, October 8, 2019

Adi Varaha Temple, Mamallapuram – Legends

Adi Varaha Temple, Mamallapuram – Legends
A Pallava King made a daily trip to the Varaha Perumal temple at Thiru Vidanthai. He would have his morning food only after this darshan. Also, it was his practice to feed a 1000 people each day after coming back from Thiru Vidanthai. Lord Vishnu decided to put his devotion to test. One morning he appeared before the king as a hungry Brahmin carrying along with a child (Goddess in disguise).
The king requested if he could first make his daily trip to Thiru Vidanthai and then offer them food as that was his practice. The Lord in disguise rejected this suggestion stating that he was dying of hunger and that it may be too late for the child by the time the king returned. Invoking the blessings of Varaha Perumal of Thiru Vidanthai, the king decided that feeding a hungry child was more important than his trip.
Pleased with the king’s true devotion, the disguised Lord provided darshan to the king at the same place as Varaha Perumal with Agilavalli Thayar on his right side (at Thiru Vidanthai, Goddess is seen to the left of the Lord). Pallava King Simha Vishnu is believed to have built this cave temple. In memory of his contribution, one finds stone idols of Simha Vishnu along with his son Mahendra Varma Pallava.