Rajendra Chozheeswarar Temple,
Ilayankudi – Legends
Ilayankudi Maranar:
Ilayankudi Maranar is
a Nayanar saint, venerated in the Hindu sect of Shaivism.
He is generally counted as the fourth in the list of 63 Nayanars. He is also called Marar, Maran and Mara
Nayanar, names he shares with Somasi Mara Nayanar. The two Nayanars are
generally differentiated by the prefixes "Ilayankudi" and
"Somasi". The life of Ilayankudi Maranar is described in
the Periya Puranam by Sekkizhar (12th century),
which is a hagiography of the 63 Nayanars.
Ilayankudi Maranar (Marar) was
born in Ilayangudi, presently in Sivaganga district of the
Indian state of Tamilnadu. He derives his name from his birthplace. Marar
was a Sudra by caste and worked as a farmer. He accumulated
great wealth by agriculture. He was a staunch devotee of the god Shiva,
the patron god of Shaivism and served the god and his devotees. He used to
welcome devotees of Shiva to his home, ritually wash their feet and feed them a
feast.
To test Marar's devotion, Shiva
made his wealth wane. He continued to serve the devotees in penury, as he did
in plenty. The Nayanar sold his properties to feed the devotees. On a night of
torrential downpour, Lord Shiva came disguised as a devotee and came to Marar's
impoverished home. Marar welcomed the guest with respect, dried him and gave
him a warm seat to sit. The starving couple pondered how they could feed the
guest as the house had no food and it was pouring outside. The wife suggested
that the paddy rains sown in the field can be gathered and prepared as a meal
for the guest.
Marar rushed to the field in the
deluge and gathered the flooding seeds from the field. Since there was no
firewood, the Nayanar pulled a rafter from the wooden roof to use as fuel.
While the wife cleaned and prepared the rice, Marar went to the backyard to
bring greens to prepare a curry. Marar went with the food to awaken the resting
devotee. The devotee suddenly blazed like a flame. Shiva appeared in his true
form with his consort Parvati and blessed the couple. He took Marar
and his wife to his abode Kailash.
One of the most prominent
Nayanars, Sundarar (8th century) venerates Ilayankudi
Maranar in the Tiruthonda Thogai, a hymn to Nayanar saints. Ilayankudi
Maranar is worshipped in the Tamil month of Avani, when the moon enters
the Magha nakshatra (lunar mansion). He is depicted like a sage,
usually with a beard and with folded hands. He receives collective worship as
part of the 63 Nayanars. Their icons and brief accounts of his deeds are found
in many Shiva temples in Tamilnadu. Their images are taken out in procession in
festivals.
Ilayankudi Maranar is especially
associated with Rajendra
Chozheeswarar Temple in his home town Ilayangudi. While the formal temple
is derived from inscriptions of the king Rajendra Chola I (reign:
1012–1044 CE), the locals call the temple Jyotishvara, Lord of the flame,
alluding to the legend of the Nayanar. A shrine is dedicated to the Nayanar in
the temple. On Avani Magha day, icons of Ilayankudi Maranar and his wife
Punithavathi as well as the presiding deities Shiva and Parvati is paraded in
the village in a temple cart (Chapparam).
The Neivedhyam (food
offering) of spinach is presented to Shiva of this temple. Devotees also
emulate the Nayanar by practicing Annadhana (charity in form of food). The
Nayanar's house and field, situated near the shrine are venerated as Mulai
Vari Amudhu Alitha Nattrangal, the land which created Neivedhyam for God.
Indra worshipped Lord Shiva here:
In order to be freed from the
curse of a sage, Indira came to earth, installed Shiva Lingas in many places
including this place for his worship. As
Indira installed the Shivalinga and worshipped here, it is said that his
daughter Deivanai alone is with Lord Muruga.