Manikandeeswarar Temple,
Kanchipuram – Legends
Manikandeeswarar:
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. During
the churning process, the Halahala poison escaped from the mouth of the serpent
king Vasuki. This terrified the gods and demons because the poison was so
powerful that it could destroy all of creation. 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. The Devas then approached
Lord Shiva for protection.
Lord Shiva consumed the poison. Lord Shiva was suffering
intense pain. Mother Parvati immediately places a hand on his throat, stopping
the poison to flow any further, and by her Maya stopped it forever.
As a result, his throat turned blue and he was henceforth called Neelakantha (the
blue-throated one; Neela – blue, Kantha – throat in Sanskrit). Devas felt
bad that Lord Shiva drank the poison and pledged his life for their sake. Devas
came to Kanchipuram and installed Shiva Linga here. Hence Lord Shiva came to be
called as Manikandeeswarar. Devas
worshipped the Linga to get relief from their sin of making Lord Shiva to drink
Halahala poison.
Panamanneeswarar:
Vasuki was afflicted with sin for spitting the Halahala
poison. To get relief from the sin, Vasuki came to Kanchipuram, created a tank
called Vasuki Theertham and installed a Shiva Linga. Vasuki offered precious Rathna
to Lord Shiva. Vasuki got relief from the sin and Vasuki was granted the boon
of decorating the body of Lord Shiva. Hence, Lord Shiva came to be called as Panamanneeswarar.
This Linga can be seen in the prakaram.
