Naanmaraiyurar Temple,
Perumkadambanur – Legends
Mada Kovils:
Kochengat Chola was an
early Chola king and one of the 63 Nayanmars (Saivite saints)
of Saivism. He is believed to have attained spiritual rebirth of a
spider that fought with an elephant in its previous birth over the worship of
the Lord Shiva. He had red eyes during birth as he remained in his
mother’s womb a little longer. His mother, looking into the baby red eyes said
Kochengkannano (in Tamil Ko=king, Cheng=red, Kan=eyes), which
literally means king with red eyes and hence he was named Kochengat
Cholan. After becoming a king, he followed Saivism and built 70 Maadakovils,
temples with elevated structure where elephants cannot reach the sanctum,
in the Chola empire. It is believed that this is one of the
temple built by him.
Pancha Kadamba Sthalams:
Lord Muruga annihilated Sura
Padman, his brothers and his army to safeguard Devas. Due to the killings, he
acquired Veerahathi Dosha. Due to the Dosha, Lord Muruga prayed to Lord Shiva
for relief. Lord Shiva advised Lord Murugan to worship him at Kilvelur,
While worshipping Lord Shiva at Kilvelur, Lord Murugan installed five Shiva
Lingas around Kilvelur
and worshipped Lord Shiva to get rid of the sin of killing the demons during
Sura Samhara. Hence these temples are collectively called as Pancha
Kadamba Sthalams.
Chathur Vedapureeswarar:
It is believed that all the four
Vedas worshipped Lord Shiva here. Hence, Lord came to be called as Chathur
Vedapureeswarar and Mother came to be called as Vedanayaki.
