Kanneswarar Temple,
Kanchipuram – Legends
Indra, the King of Svarga, while riding on the
elephant Airavata, came across Sage Durvasa who offered him a
special garland given to him by a nymph. Indra accepted the gift and placed it
on the trunk of the elephant as a test to prove that he was not an egoistic
deva. The flowers on it had a scent that attracted some bees. Annoyed by the
bees Airavata threw the garland on the ground. This enraged the sage as the
garland was a dwelling of Sri (fortune) and was to be treated as
a prasada or religious offering.
Durvasa cursed Indra and all devas to be bereft of all
strength, energy, and fortune. In battles following the incident, the Devas
were defeated and the Asuras, led by Bali, gained control over the
universe. The Devas sought Lord Vishnu's help, who advised them to treat the
Asuras in a diplomatic manner. The Devas formed an alliance with the Asuras to
jointly churn the ocean for the nectar of immortality and to share it
among themselves.
However, Vishnu told the Devas that he would arrange for
them alone to obtain the nectar. During the churning of the Ocean of
Milk (Samudra Manthana), Mount Mandara was used as the churning rod,
and Vasuki, a Nagaraja who abides on Lord Shiva's neck, became the
churning rope. The Samudra Manthana
process released a number of things from the Ocean of Milk. One of them was the
lethal poison known as Halahala.
This terrified the gods and demons because the poison
was so powerful that it could destroy all of creation. Lord Vishnu knew that
Vasuki would vomit poisonous flames when twisted and pulled, and therefore
advised the Devas to hold the tail end of the snake, without telling them the
reason. First, the Devas held the head end of the snake, while the Asuras held
the tail end. The Asuras were enraged by this, as the lower part of an animal
is impure, or less pure, than the part that contains the head.
They insisted on holding the head side of the snake.
Lord Vishnu had an inkling that his reverse psychology would work. The Asuras
demanded to hold the head of the snake, while the Devas, taking advice from
Lord Vishnu, agreed to hold its tail. When the mountain was placed in the ocean,
it began to sink. Vishnu, in the form of Kurma, came to their rescue and
supported the mountain on his shell. The Asuras were poisoned by fumes emitted
by Vasuki.
Despite this, the Devas and the Asuras pulled back and
forth on the snake's body alternately, causing the mountain to rotate, which in
turn churned the ocean. Vasuki spit the poison into the milky ocean. This
poison made an impact on the fair complexion of Lord Vishnu and made him dark.
Lord Vishnu came to Kanchipuram to get relief. He installed Kanna Lingam and
worshipped Lord Shiva. Hence, Lord Shiva came to be called as Kanneswarar.
Lord Shiva was pleased by the devotion of Lord Vishnu
and ordered him to go to Ekambaranathar Temple. Further, Lord Shiva stated him to
take a place near the crescent moon in his matted hair. Lord Vishnu followed
Lord Shiva instructions obediently and got relieved from his dark complexion.
Lord Vishnu came to be called as Nila Thunda Perumal. Nila Thunda Perumal Shrine can be seen located opposite to the sanctum in Ekambaranathar Temple.