Atulya
Nadheswarar Temple, Arakandanallur – Legends
Lord Vishnu worshipped Lord Shiva to get relief from
the sin caused by slaying Mahabali:
As per legend, Lord Vishnu
descended as the Vamana avatar to restore the authority
of Indra over the heavens, as it had been taken by Mahabali, a
benevolent Asura King. Bali was the grandson
of Prahlada. King Mahabali was generous and engaged in severe austerities
and penance and won the praise of the world. With the praise from his courtiers
and others, he regarded himself as the all-powerful in the world.
Vamana, in the guise of a
short Brahmin carrying a wooden umbrella, went to the king to
request three paces of land. Mahabali consented, against the warning
of his guru, Sukracharya. Vamana then revealed his identity and enlarged to
gigantic proportions to stride over the three worlds. He stepped from heaven to
earth with the first step, from earth to the netherworld with the second.
King Mahabali, unable to
fulfill his promise, offered his head for the third. Vamana then placed his foot
and gave the king immortality for his humility. Lord Vishnu conceded
sovereignty of Patala, the netherworld to Mahabali. This incident is said to
have happened in Thirukovilur
Ulagalantha Perumal Temple.
Lord Vishnu wanted to
propitiate the sins caused by slaying Mahabali during Vamana avatar.
He prayed to Lord Shiva for the same at various Shiva temples. Finally, Lord
Vishnu came here and worshipped Lord Shiva. Lord Shiva blessed Lord Vishnu and
absolved him from his sins. There is an image of Lord Vishnu in a sculpture showing
the legend.
Aram Kanda Nallur:
The three
crowned Tamil kings Cheras, Cholas and Pandyas expanded
their kingdoms ruthlessly and turned their attention towards independent Velir
Kings thus turning them into subordinates or eliminating them to annex their
kingdoms. They laid siege to the heavily fortified country of Parambu, but Vel
Pari refused to give in and the war dragged for years. Kabilar approached
the kings and asked them to turn back describing his patron Pari as an
unconquerable warrior. After a long war, Vel Pa was killed by treachery.
Kapilar become the guardian of Pari's
two daughters, Angavai and Sangavai, after Pari's death and the three of them
left Parambu country. Kapilar unsuccessfully approached different Velir kings
to find grooms. He would be let down each time as the other Velir kings would
fear retribution from the three crowned kingdoms. He would finally leave the
two princesses in the care of Andhanars. He took his own life
by vadakirrutal (one of the Tamil ways of committing suicide) as
he was deeply affected by the death of his friend Vel Pari. He sat facing north
and starved himself to death in Kabilar Kundru.
Later,
poet Avvaiyar takes care of them and marries them off successfully to
Deiveegan and Enadhi Kannan, sons of another Velir king Malaiyaman. After their
marriage, the newlywed couples came here and worshipped Lord Shiva. They also
fed the poor and gifted them with essential things for a better life. As they
performed charity at this place, the place came to be called as Arakandanallur
(Aram means charity, Kanda means performed and Nallur means place – the place
where they performed the charity).
Lord Shiva opened the doors of the temple for Sambandar:
As per legend, when Sambandar,
the 7th century Saiva saint Nayanmar, visited this temple, the temple
had been locked by Jains. On seeing the condition of the temple, Sambandar sung
praises of Atulya Nadheswarar by standing outside the temple. Miraculously,
Lord Shiva appeared and opened the door by himself for Sambandar to have
worship of him. It is also said that people from other faiths placed huge
boulders and rocks at the entrance to deny him, the access to the temple.
But, his devotional hymns moved the
boulders and rocks away from the entrance of the temple. Thus, enabling
Sambandar to enter the temple. It is also said that both Pradosha Nandhi and
Adhikara Nandhi moved away to enable Sambandar to have an unhindered darshan of
Lord Shiva in the Sanctum. Till today, both the Nandis are seen facing opposite
directions.
Annamalaiyar Lingam:
Saint Thirugnana Sambandar was
on his way to Thiruvannamalai but was interrupted by a divine force. Hence, he
installed a Lingam in this temple and named it as Annamalaiyar Lingam. It is
said that Thirugnana Sambandar worshipped Lord Arunachaleswarar (Annamalayar)
of Thiruvannamalai from this temple itself. There is a foot imprint of Thirugnana
Sambandar carved in rock on a pedestal, can be seen in the outer prakaram. It
is believed that he worshipped Lord Arunachaleswarar from this spot.
Arunachaleswarar Hill can be seen from this spot.
Pandavas stay in Arakandanallur:
As per legend, Pandavas stayed
in Arakandanallur
for few days during their exile. It is said that Pandavas stayed in the
caves near water tank. There are five cells in this
cave temple, which were used by each Pandavas. The water tank is
said to have been created by Bhima with his mace. Hence, the tank came to be
called as Veeman Kulam (Bheema Kulam). There are two
Sunais (water streams) named as Draupadi Theertham and Pandava Theertham, on
the hillock, are said to have been used by Pandavas and Draupadi. Pandavas
worshiped Lord Shiva here and got back their kingdom.
Ramana Maharishi meditated at this temple:
Ramana Maharshi (30 December
1879 – 14 April 1950) was a famous Indian Hindu sage. He was born
Venkataraman Iyer on 30 December 1879 in the
village Tiruchuzhi near Aruppukkottai, Virudhunagar in
Tamil Nadu, South India. He was the second of four children in an orthodox
Hindu Brahmin family. Young Venkataraman was fascinated by Thiruvannamalai
Hill, the sacred hill and Annamalaiyar
temple in November 1895. During this time, he read Sekkizhar's Periyapuranam,
a book that describes the lives of the 63 Nayanmars, which made a great
impression on him.
Knowing his family would not
permit him to become a Sanyasin. He left home and boarded the train on 29
August 1896 and reached Tiruvannamalai
on 1 September 1896 where he remained for the rest of his life. While on his
journey to Thiruvannamalai,
it is believed that Ramana Maharishi meditated at this
temple. An idol and photo of Ramana Maharishi can be seen
opposite to Nalvar Shrine.
Lord Shiva appeared as Annamalaiyar to Neelakanda
Rishi:
As per legend, a rishi named
Neelakandar was suffering from a curse. He undertook a pilgrimage to Thiruvannamalai
to get relief from the curse. While on his pilgrimage to Thiruvannamalai,
he visited various Shiva temples. Finally, he reached Arakandanallur
and enthralled to see this temple. He saw the holy Arunachala
mountain from this
temple and he prayed to Lord Annamalaiyar to provide darshan to him
as Annamalaiyar in Arakandanallur
itself. Acceding his request, Lord Shiva appeared as Annamalaiyar before him
and provided relief from the curse.
Araiani Nallur:
In Tamil, Arai means rock, Ani
means beauty and Nathar means Lord Shiva. Hence, Hence, Lord Shiva came to be
called as Araiani Nathar (Lord Shiva appears beautifully over the rock) and the
place came to be called as Araiani Nallur. Later, the name got corrupted to Arakandanallur.
People worshipped Lord Shiva here:
It is believed that Pandavas,
Saint Sambandar, Lord Vishnu, Ramana Maharishi, Rishi Prasanda, Poet Kabilar
and Rishi Neelakandar had worshipped Lord Shiva of this
temple.