Kailasanathar Temple,
Periyakulam – Legends
Annihilation
of Mahishasura:
As per legends, Mahishasura was
a demon king with the head of a buffalo. He was a staunch worshipper of Lord
Brahma. After years of penance by Mahishasura, Brahma was finally pleased and
offered him a wish. Mad with power, Mahishasura demanded immortality. His wish
was that he should not be killed by a man or animal on the face of Earth.
Brahma granted him this wish, and then told him that a woman will be the end of
him. Mahishasura believed that there is no woman in the world who could cause
him any harm.
Mahishasura, high on the power
of immortality, attacked Triloka (the three worlds of earth, heaven and hell)
with his army. He even tried to capture Indraloka (the kingdom of Lord Indra). The
gods decided to wage a war on Mahishasura but due to Lord Brahma's boon nobody
was able to defeat him. The gods thus approached Lord Vishnu for help. After
considering the situation, Lord Vishnu decided to create a female form to
defeat Mahishasura. But since Lord Shiva is the god of destruction, they
consulted with him.
Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva combined
all their powers together to give birth to Durga. Goddess Durga then fought
Mahishasura over a period of fifteen days during which he kept changing his
shape to become different animals and misled her. Finally, when he transformed
into a buffalo, Goddess Durga stabbed him with her trident and that was the end
of him. Mahishasura was defeated and killed on the day of Mahalaya. Saptha
Kannigais (Brahma, Maheshwari, Gowmari, Vaishnavi, Varahi, Indrani and
Chamundi) helped Durga in her battle. Hence, Saptha Kannigais got Dosha on
Killing Mahishasura.
Saptha Kannigais begged Lord
Shiva for the forgiveness. Lord Shiva instructed them to go to earth and
worship him continuously. By doing so, their sins would be absolved at right
time. Lord Shiva sent Veerabhadra for their protection. Veerabhadra in the form
of Dakshinamoorthy made them to worship Lord Shiva sincerely. In due course of
time, Saptha Kannigas were absolved of their sin.
Normally, Saptha Kannigais (Brahma, Maheshwari, Gowmari, Vaishnavi, Varahi, Indrani
and Chamundi) used to be with Veerabhadirai and Vinayagi in temples. But in
this Temple, Saptha Kannigais are accompanied by Dakshinamoorthy and Vinayaga.
It is believed that Saptha Kannigais used to take bath in Kailasa Theertham and
worship Lord Kailasanathar.
Sage
Agasthiyar visit to this Temple:
As per the Sthala Puranam, Sage Agasthiyar
visited and worshipped Lord Shiva of this temple. He had also created a spring
in the hill. Sage Agasthya had sung the glory of Lord Kailasanathar and
the sacred spring in his hymns.
South
Kailasha:
When Sage Sattanatha visited
Kailasha, he could not able to bear the cold. On seeing his suffering, Lord Shiva
gave darshan to Sattanatha and told that this place is equivalent to Kailash.
Then, this place came to be called as Then Kailasam (South Kailash). Those who can’t
able to visit Kailash, can visit here and get the same benefits of visiting
Kailash. It is believed that Sattanatha Muni (One among the famous 18 Tamil
Siddhars) used to visit the hills on every Pournami and worship Kailasanathar.
Also, believed that he used to undergo penance under the Sthala Vriksham.