Pages

Tuesday, August 11, 2020

Abathsahayeswarar Temple, Aduthurai – Legends

Abathsahayeswarar Temple, Aduthurai – Legends
Abathsahayeswarar:
As per legend, once there was a fight between Vali and Mayavi. The latter went and hid in a cave. Vali wanted to kill him and entered the cave but did not come out. Sugriva was waiting outside for a long time thought that Vali was killed by Mayavi. Hence to avoid the possibility of Mayavi coming out, he closed the cave with a big rock, came back to Kishkinta and gave the news. He was anointed the King. Later, Vali managed to come out of the cave and found that Sugriva was made the King. He thought that it was a plot by Sugriva and became angry. 
He fought with Sugriva and drove him out of his kingdom. Lord Shiva rescued Sugriva from a fight with his brother Vaali at this place. Sugriva prayed to Lord Shiva for help as he was unable to defeat Vaali. Lord Shiva changed Sugriva to a Swan and his wife to Parijatha tree. Lord Shiva hid Sugriva amidst Parijada tree in such a way that Vali could not able to find him. As Lord Shiva helped Sugriva, he came to be called as Abathsahayeswarar.
Kurangaduthurai:
There are two places on the banks of Cauvery River by the name of Kurangaduthurai. Lord Shiva is said to have been worshipped by two monkeys (Kurangu in Tamil) from Ramayana namely Sugriva and Vaali. This place is called as Then Kurangaduthurai as it is located on the southern side of the river Cauvery. Sugriva worshiped Lord Shiva here. The other Kurangaduthurai is called as Vada Kurangaduthurai as it is located on the northern side of the river Cauvery and Vaali is said to have worshiped Lord Shiva in Vada Kurangaduthurai.
Lord Shiva acted as guide to Haradatta:
As per legend, Saint Haradatta was born in a Vaishnava family in a nearby Kanjanur Village. He was a devotee of Lord Vishnu in his early ages, but later became an ardent devotee of Lord Shiva. He used to stand on a red-hot tripod and pray to Lord Shiva. He was having a habit of worshipping Lord Shiva in all Sapthasthana Temples namely Kanjanur, Thirukodikaval, Thiruvavaduthurai, Thirumangalakudi, Thirumandurai, Thiruvalangadu and Aduthurai.  
One day, when he was returning from Aduthurai after worshipping Lord Shiva, heavy rain started, and the place became too dark. Haradatta could not find his way and prayed to Lord Shiva for help. An old man came with a walking stick at that time and instructed Haradatta to follow him and took him safely to Kanjanur. Once, Haradatta reached his home, the old man disappeared.  Haradatta understood that it was Abathsahayeswarar guided him safely to his home. 
Lord Shiva in the disguise of a lady physician helped a pregnant lady:
A pregnant lady from the nearby village of Thirumangalakkudi was an ardent devotee of Lord Shiva of this Temple. She regularly visited this Temple and prayed to Lord Shiva. Once, after completing her worship, she could not able to return to her village because of the flash floods due to heavy rain. Unfortunately, she developed labor pain and prayed to Lord Shiva for help. Lord Shiva in the disguise of a lady physician, performed the delivery in time. He also went to the worried parents of the girl and informed them that delivery had taken place. When they asked him from where he had come, he told Maruthuvakudi and disappeared.  
Hanuman prayed to Lord Shiva to get back his music prowess:
Once, Lord Hanuman was sitting in Mount Kailash and was singing.  Sage Narada visited Kailasha during that time and got mesmerized by the singing of Lord Hanuman. He sat and started listening the song. He kept his Mahati Veena by his side. He regained his senses and understood that he was bound by the singing of Hanuman for a long time. Narada found his Veena got struck amidst snow. Narada blamed Hanuman for the heavenly music and cursed him that he would forget all his music, to avoid such problems in future. Lord Hanuman prayed to Lord Shiva of this temple and got back his musical prowess.
Natarajapuram:
As per legend, Lord Shiva performed his Thandava (cosmic dance) here as per the request of Sage Agastya and other renowned sages. Hence, the place came to be called as Natarajapuram.
Sugriva got back his kingdom by praying Lord Shiva here:
It is believed that Sugriva got back his kingdom by praying to Lord Shiva of this Temple. Hence, it is believed that those who pray here, get back what they have lost.  
Lord Rama worshipped Lord Shiva here:
It is believed that Lord Rama along with Lakshmana, Sugriva and Hanuman visited and prayed to Lord Shiva during his search of Mother Sita.
Swarna Bhairavar:
It is believed that Sage Agastya installed Swarna Bhairavar in this Temple and worshipped Swarna Bhairavar & Lord Shiva here.
Brahma worshipped Lord Shiva here:
It is believed that Lord Brahma worshipped Lord Shiva here.