Nilathingal Thundam Perumal
Temple, Kanchipuram – Legends
Nila
Thingal Thundathan:
Legend has it that once Parvati,
the consort of Lord Shiva was cursed to become dark like Kali. She
wanted to expatiate herself from the sin by doing penance under the temple's
ancient Mango tree near Vegavathi river. In order to test her devotion Lord
Shiva opened his third eye causing the tree under which Goddess
Parvati was doing penance to get fired. Goddess Parvati prayed to her
brother, Lord Vishnu, for help.
In order to save her, Lord Vishnu took the crescent from Shiva's head and reflected
the rays which then cooled down the tree as well as Parvati. Shiva wanted to
test Parvati again and sent the river Ganga (Ganges)
to disrupt her penance. Parvati prayed to Ganga and convinced her that both of
them were sisters and so she should not harm her. Subsequently, Ganga did not
disturb her penance and Parvati made a Shiva
Linga out of sand to get united with Shiva. Shiva came to be
known as Ekambareswarar
or "Lord of Mango Tree" and Vishnu as Nila
Thingal Thundathan.
Vishnu
prayed to Lord Shiva for curing his blackened Skin:
Lord Maha Vishnu took the form of Tortoise (Koorma
Avatara) to the hold the Meru Mount used as the stick (Mathu in Tamil) to churn
the milk ocean. Serpent Vasuki was used as the
rope. Vasuki, exhausted during this exercise, split its venom which
fell on the Tortoise Vishnu under the milk ocean blackening his
skin originally alluring pale blue. Treatments were of no use. Lord
Brahma suggested that worshipping Lord Shiva will remove the blackness and
restore his original shade. Lord Vishnu performed penance on Lord Shiva, who
granted darshan.
Crescent Moon on the head of Lord Shiva spread his rays
on Perumal. Black disappeared. He recovered his own alluring blue shining
better than before. As Lord Vishnu got back his skin colour as before through
rays of Moon, He is praised as Nila Thunda (crescent moon) Perumal / Chandra
Soodiya Perumal. The shrine is in the Eesanya corner (north east) of
the temple. This is a temple within another temple (Vishnu temple in Shiva
temple). This is praised as one of the 108
Divya Desams of Lord Vishnu.