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Saturday, October 17, 2020

Gnanaparameswarar Temple, Thiru Naalur Mayanam – Legends

Gnanaparameswarar Temple, Thiru Naalur Mayanam – Legends

Apastamba Rishi worshipped Lord Shiva here:

Apastamba, the founder of a Shakha (Vedic school) of Yajurveda. He is known for his work, Apastamba Dharmasutra. It is a Sanskrit text and one of the oldest Dharma-related texts of Hinduism. It is one of three extant Dharmasutras texts from the Taittiriya school of Krishna Yajurveda, the other two being Baudhayana Dharmasutra and Hiranyakesin Dharmasutra. The Gautama Dharmasutra is part of Apastamba Kalpasutra collection, along with Apastamba Shrautasutra and Apastamba Grihyasutra. 

It is one of the best preserved ancient texts on Dharma. The text is notable for its broad minded and liberal views on women and all social classes. It is also notable for mentioning and citing views of ten ancient experts on Dharma, which has led scholars to conclude that there existed a rich genre of Dharmasutras text in ancient India before this text was composed. It is said that Apastamba Rishi worshipped Lord Shiva of this temple.

Naalur:

Chaturvedimangalam refers to the settlement of learned Brahmins or when a whole village was settled by a number of learned Brahmins by the ruling monarch. It is said that the inhabitants of this settlement must have achieved proficiency in four Vedas. This place is considered as one such Chaturvedimangalam populated by Vedic Scholars in ancient times. Chaturvedimangalam is also called as Naalvediyur in Tamil. Naalvediyur later got corrupted to Naalur.

Palasavananathar:

Once, this place was full of Palasu / Purasu (Flame of the Forest) trees. Hence, the place came to be called as Palasa Vanam and Lord Shiva came to be called as Palasavananathar.

Snakes worshipping Lord Shiva here:

It is said that snakes have been visiting this temple occasionally and remain on the Lingam for some time. In fact, Thirugnana Sambandar had mentioned about the snakes worshipping Lord Shiva in this temple in one of his Devaram hymns.

பாலூரும் மலைப்பாம்பும்

பனிமதியும் மத்தமும்

Gnanaparameswarar:

As Lord Shiva have Gnana (knowledge) to the Rishi and the Vedas at this place, he came to be called as Gnanaparameswarar.

People worshipped Lord Shiva here:

It is believed that Apastamba Rishi, Lord Vishnu, Lord Brahma, the four Vedas and Saint Thirugnana Sambanthar had worshipped Lord Shiva here.