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Thursday, March 4, 2021

Ona Kantheeswarar Temple, Panjupettai – Legends

Ona Kantheeswarar Temple, Panjupettai – Legends

Oneswarar, Kantheeswarar and Jalanatheeswarar:

As per legend, Onan and Kanthan were demons (Asuras) and commanders of demon king Vanasura. Both of them were securities at his fort near a place called Puzhal. Onan found a Swayambhu Linga in this place and performed severe penance doing abishek with his blood and secured many boons. Kanthan too found a Linga and was blessed with boons as reward of his impeccable devotion to Lord Shiva. There was a third asura, Jalandeeswaran, who joined the two, and became an ardent devotee of Lord Shiva. He was also lucky to find a Linga and got many boons from the Lord. The three shrines in the temple, each dedicated to Oneswarar, Kantheeswarar and Jalanatheeswarar are believed to be the respective shrines built by the demons.

Sundarar renovated this temple using golden Tamarind:

 When Saint Sundarar visited this temple,  he found the Lingas buried in an open space. He was all praise of the demons for their devotion to Lord Shiva. To show the world that even demons were staunch Shiva devotees and to protect the three Lingas, the saint sang in praise of the Lord seeking funds to build a temple. Lord delayed his response to have more songs from the saint Sundarar. He then showed a tamarind tree and disappeared. Sundarar saw the fruits of tree changing to gold. Sundarar used the gold and built this temple for the three Swayambhu Shiva Lingas.

Saint Sundarar got back his eyesight here:

It is believed that Saint Sundarar got back the eyesight in one of his eyes here which he lost on account of not keeping his word in the Ekambaranathar Temple.