Aruna Jadeswarar
Temple, Thiruppanandal – Legends
Thadagai Eswaram:
Thadagai, a staunch Shiva
devotee was unable to place her garland to Lord one day as her upper sari
slipped. She held the sari by one hand and tried to place the garland by other
yet could not. Lord Shiva obliged his devotee by leaning his neck for her. The
girl was happy to place the garland on the Lord. Since that day, the
Shivalinga was always in a leaning posture. It is also said that she
prayed to Lord Shiva to provide her with 16 hands to perform Shodasa Upachara
pooja to him. Lord Shiva fulfilled her wish and granted her with 16 hands.
There is a beautiful sculpture of Thadagai with 16 hands performing Pooja to
Lord Shiva can be seen in the temple premises. As Thadagai worshiped Lord Shiva
here, the place came to be called as Thadagai
Eswaram.
Brahma Theertham:
As per legend, once Lord Brahma (the
Hindu God of creation) and Lord Vishnu (the Hindu God of Protection)
had an argument in terms of supremacy. To test them, Lord Shiva pierced
the three worlds as a huge endless pillar of light, the jyotirlinga.
Vishnu and Brahma split their ways to downwards and upwards respectively to
find the end of the light in either directions. Lord Vishnu conceded his
defeat. But brahma lied that he saw the beginning of Shiva with the help of
Thazampoo (screw pine in English – is a type of flower).
When Brahma was searching the
Lord’s head, the flower from Shiva’s head was falling down. Brahma stopped the
flower and convinced it to support him. He said he saw Shiva’s head and that is
where he picked the flower to Shiva. Knowing truth, Lord Shiva got angry and
cursed Brahma that he would have no place at earth. He also cursed the
Thazampoo to lose the importance in Shiva Pooja. Brahma realized his mistake
and apologized with Shiva. He prayed to rescue him from the curse. Lord Shiva
told him to go to Thirupananthal
and worship him there after takin bath at the temple tank.
Brahma did as per Lord Shiva’s instruction
and got rid of dosha. Later Brahma become very happy as his curse was removed
and he conducted a grand Yaga during the Tamil month of Chithirai. It is
general believe that every year Brahma comes down and conducts this Yaga
personally during Chithirai. The temple tank which Brahma took bath is called
as Brahma Theertham. Lord Shiva relieved Thazampoo also from the curse at this
temple.
Kungiliya Kalaya Nayanar:
When a Chola king named
Veerasenan renovated this
temple, he tried to straighten the leaning posture of Shiva Linga with
the help of his soldiers, but he could not succeed. They even used elephants to
pull the Shivalinga to set it in order but failed. The king learned about
Saint Kungiliya Kalaya Nayanar of Thirukkadaiyur
and his devotion towards Lord Shiva. He called him here and sought his help. This
Nayanar was famous because his worship always involved the use of the fragrant
smoke of Kungiliyam (Benzoin).
He tied a rope to the Lingam and
to the other end of the rope he tied a knife. He wrapped the end with the knife
to his neck and started pulling gently. He prayed to the Lord that in case he
failed to straighten the lingam in this process, the Lord Shiva should take his
life. Even as the rope tightened around his neck, the Nayanar did not flinch.
Lord Shiva did not want to test Nayanar any further and returned the Lingam
back to its straightened position. The king paid rich tributes to Nayanar and
honoured him with gifts.
Nagakannikai Theertham:
As per legend, son of Kungiliya
Kalaya Nayanar died in this
place. It is believed that when he was taken for cremation, Lord
Vinayakar intercepted and advised them to bathe his son in the waters of the
Nagakannikai Theertham. When they did so, the Nayanar’s son was restored back
to life.
Thiru Pananthal:
It is believed that Lord Shiva
is said to have emerged under the Palm tree (Panai Maram). Hence, the place
came to be called as Thiru
Pananthal.
Thala Vanam:
Thiruppanandal was also called
as Thala Vanam in ancient times. Thala means Palm Tree and Vanam means forest.
Upadesa Sthalam:
It is believed that Goddess
Parvathy worshiped Lord Shiva here and received Gnana Upadesa (divine
learning). As she received Upadesa from Lord Shiva, their shrines are facing
each other. Hence, the
temple is considered as Upadesa Sthalam.
Naga Kanni worshipped Lord Shiva here:
Naga Kanni (Sumathi), daughter
of Vasuki and her husband Arithuvasan from the Naga Loka worshipped Lord Shiva
of this
Temple.
Lord Shiva visits the Brahma Theertham on Aavani New
Moon Day:
It is believed that Lord Shiva
visits the Brahma Theertham of this
temple on the Aavani new moon day in August-September.
Chandra worshipped Lord Shiva here:
It is believed that Chandra
worshipped Lord Shiva to get rid of a Dosha. Anyone having Chandra dosha can
worship Lord Shiva for relief.
People worshipped Lord Shiva here:
It is believed that Mother
Parvathi, Iravadha, white elephant of Lord Indra, Indra, Surya, Chandran, Sage
Agastya, Adisesha, Thadagai, Kungiliya Kalaya Nayanar, Sangu Kannan, Nagu
Kannan, Naga Kannikas, Lord Brahma and Vishnu had worshipped Lord Shiva in this
temple.