Thiru Nandipura Vinnagaram
Temple, Nathan Kovil – Legends
As per Hindu legend, Nandi,
the sacred bull of Lord Shiva, wanted to meet Lord Vishnu at Vaikuntha
and entered without securing the permission of the security guards
(Dwarapalakas) of Vishnu. They cursed Nandi that his body would suffer
oppressive heat. Nandi informed it to his lord Shiva, who advised him to do
penance in Shenbakaranyam, a forest near modern-day Kumbakonam. Lord Vishnu was
impressed by the penance of Nandi and got his curse relieved. Hence the place
is called Nandipuram.
An image of Nandi can be seen on one of the walls of the temple. All the
shrines and water bodies associated with the
temple are named after Nandi.
Goddess Lakshmi penance to get her place in Lord
Vishnu chest:
Goddess Lakshmi wanted to reside
in the heart of Lord Vishnu. She undertook a penance at Shenbagaranyam facing east.
It is said that the Lord appeared before her (facing west) and accepted her
wishes. Devotees worship Shenbagavalli of the temple during the Tamil
month of Aipasi and believe that their wishes will be
fulfilled. As Mother performed penance in Shenbagaranya region, She is praised
as Shenbagavalli
Lord Vishnu turned west to see King Sibi offering of
his own flesh:
As per legend, Emperor Sibi was
a great donor. Once, Lord Indra took a form of a hunter and Lord Agni
transformed himself as a pigeon. The pigeon sought Sibi’s help and to help the
poor bird, he came forward to give his own flesh equal to the pigeon’s weight to
the hunter. So, he sat in the west plate of the balance while the pigeon in the
east. Lord Vishnu, originally faced the east, turned westward to look at King
Sibi saving a bird by providing flesh from his thighs and blessed the King with
his darshan.
Shenbagaranyam:
This
place was once a forest of Shenbagam flowers and hence is known as Shenbagaranyam,
meaning forest of Shenbagam.
Dakshina Jagannatham:
As this
temple resembles the Puri Jagannatha temple, it is also known as Dakshina
Jagannatham.
