Saranatha Perumal
Temple, Thirucherai – Legends
Sara
Kshetram:
As per Hindu legend, when time came to destroy the world
and finish the Yuga, Brahma was
worried a lot. He pleaded Vishnu to tell him a way to keep the tools necessary
for Srishti and
all Vedas safely. Lord Vishnu ordered him to put all these things in a strong
mud pot. Lord Brahma tried to make the mud pot from the sand from various
places and got failed. Lord Brahma went to Lord Vishnu for guidance.
Lord Vishnu instructed Lord Brahma to proceed to
Thirucherai and make the pot out of the clay on the banks of River Cauvery. As
instructed, Lord Brahma came here and finally made a pot out of the sand taken
from Thirucherai and saved all Vedas and all necessary aids for creation.
As the place has Saram (high qualities), this place came to be called as Sara Kshetram. Thus, this place plays a lead role in safeguarding all living things even
after the Maha
pralaya.
River
Goddess Cauvery:
Once Ganga, Cauvery and other major rivers in the form
of young maiden, were playing at the foot of the Vindhya Hills. A Gandharva, a
celestial being, who was passing by, waited for a minute and saluted them. The
Rivers were curious to know whom the salute was addressed. Hence, the
approached the Gandharva and enquired him. Gandharva said that the salute was
offered to the superior one among them.
A dispute arose among them to know the superior. All the
rivers approached the Hindu god of creation, Brahma. He said that during
the Vamana avatar,
Lord Vishnu appeared as dwarf and later became Trivikrama
to the king Mahabali. He placed his third feet on the demon
king and cleansed Ganga by placing his foot on it. Based on the narration,
Brahma quoted that Ganga was the holiest of all rivers.
River Cauvery wanted
her status to be equal to river Ganges
and sought the advice of Lord Brahma. Lord Brahma asked her to undertake
penance at Thirucherai on Lord Vishnu, as he was the only one who could provide
her with a solution. River Cauvery performed an intense penance. She laid three
wishes before Lord Vishnu as follows; Lord Vishnu should stay in this place for
ever, all the living beings in this place should attain his lotus feet and she
should be treated on par with River Ganga.
To test her devotion, Lord Vishnu appeared in the form
of a child in front of her. Realising the anonymity, Cauvery treated the child
with care and motherly devotion. Lord Vishnu was pleased with her devotion and
revealed all his ten avatars to her and asked her to have a
holy dip in the Sara Pushkarini. He also granted her the boon during
the Tula month (October - November) that she would be considered
superior to Ganges.
Rajagopala
Swamy:
As per a local legend, Azhagiya Manavala Nayakkar, the
king of Thanjavur, wanted to build a temple for Rajagopala Swamy in Mannargudi.
He made Narasa Boopalan, his minister, as in charge for arranging materials and
constructional activities of the temple. Narasa Boopalan was an ardent devotee
of Saranatha Perumal of Thirucherai. He wanted to renovate the Saranatha Perumal Temple. So, he ordered his men to unload one stone from each cart which
passed Thirucherai.
The king came to know of this and wanted to punish the
minister. But before that, in overnight, Narasa Boopalan constructed this temple and to please the king, added a shrine for Rajagopala Swamy in this temple.
The minister is believed to have prayed to Thirucherai deity to save him from
the punishment. The king who came to the temple witnessed the form of
Mannargudi temple in this temple. The
king was pacified and ordered to complete the temple with his money.
Uppiliappan:
When the sage came to know that Lord Vishnu loved his
daughter, he told the Lord that she was a little girl and did not know even how
much salt to be added to food. Lord Vishnu said that she can cook without salt also
and he would accept it happily. Then, he married Mother Bhoodevi at this place.
Hence, Lord Vishnu came to be called as Uppiliappan (Lord accepting food
without salt). This legend is similar to the Thirunageswaram UppiliappanTemple. Further, it is said that Sage Markandeya attained salvation here.
Pancha
Sara Kshetram:
The presiding deity is called as Saranatha Perumal, Mother
is called as Sara Nayagi, Pushkarini is called as Sara Pushkarini, the place is
called as Thiru Saram and Vimana is called as Sara Vimana. Thus, the place came
to be called as Pancha Sara Kshetram.
Chola
King Satya Keerthi worshipped Lord Vishnu for child boon:
Chola King named Satya Keerthi is believed to have
worshiped Lord Vishnu of this temple for child birth and was blessed with a
son.
Brahmotsavam:
It is said that Lord Vishnu, himself desired to watch the Brahmotsavam at Thirucherai. The festivals of the temple are thus considered sacred.