Durgapureeswarar Temple,
Kidathalaimedu – Legends
Kidathalai Medu:
As per legend, the demon
Mahishasuran (demon with the head of a buffalo) was vanquished by Mother Durga.
It is said that during the battle, Mother Durga beheaded the demon and the
buffalo head of the demon fell here. Hence, the
place came to be called as Mahishasironnapuram
/ Kidathalai Medu (Kidathalai means buffalo head).
Durga Parameswarar:
As Mother Durga worshipped Lord
Shiva here to get relief from the sin of killing Mahishasura, Lord Shiva came to
be called as Durga Parameswarar.
Kamukambal:
As per legend, Indra and
the gods suffered at the hands of the demon Tarakasura who cannot be
defeated except by the son of Lord Shiva. Lord Brahma advises that Parvati should
do sacred pooja with Lord Shiva, since their offspring would be able to defeat
Taraka. Indra assigns Manmadha to break the meditation of Lord Shiva. To create
a congenial atmosphere, Manmadha creates an untimely spring.
He evades Nandi by taking
the form of the fragrant southern breeze and enters Lord Shiva's abode. After
he awakens Lord Shiva with a flower arrow, Lord Shiva, furious, opens his third
eye, which incinerates Manmadan instantaneously and he is turned into ash. Rathi,
the wife of Manmadan, prayed to the Lord Shiva and the Mother Parvathi here to
restore her husband back to life.
Lord Shiva pleased with her
devotion brought Manmadan back to life but would be visible to Radhi only. After
resurrection, Manmadan worshipped Lord Shiva and Mother Parvathy here. Mother
Parvathi pleased at the devotion of Manmadan, gave him back the traditional
sugarcane bow and flower arrow to Manmadan. Hence, Mother Parvathy came to be
called as Kamukambal.
A hole in the left nostril in the idol of Mother
Durga:
As per legend, the Durga idol
was completed and ready for consecration next day. Mother Durga appeared in the
dream of the sculptor and expressed her wish to wear a nose stud. She suggested
him to make a small hole in the left nostril in the idol. The sculptor informed
Mother Durga that any alteration at this stage might do damage to the idol. Mother
Durga advised him to keep the chisel at a particular point on the left nostril
of the idol and she would take care of creating the hole.
The sculptor did exactly as per the
advice. When the sculptor approached the idol with his chisel for creating the
hole in left nostril, a perfect hole appeared in the nostril to his
astonishment. The sculptor fell at the feet of the idol and worshipped Mother
Durga. It is customary in this
temple to offer nose stud to this Durga for fulfilling the devotee’s
wishes.
Sumangali Pooja:
There is a miracle associated
with the Durga of this
temple happened in 1990. There is a practice in this
temple inviting nine sumangalis to offer Sumangali Pooja during full moon
day. This practice started in 1988. They decided to conduct the Sumangali Pooja
in 5th August 1990 on a grand scale and invited 300
sumangalis. But on 5th August 1990, only 299 sumangalis turned
up.
As the 300th person
did not come, the priests kept the items meant for her, on the feet of Durga
and completed the poojas. After all the sumangalis were fed, the priests
went home and were about to take food. An old lady came at that time and
introduced herself as the 300th person. She conveyed to the
priests that as she had to go to several places, she could not come in time. The
pleased priests took her to the temple and gave her all the honours befitting
her status.
The old lady then requested for
food and after eating, took their permission to rest in the
temple before leaving. The priests left her in the
temple, went home and had their lunch. When they returned to the
temple, despite their best efforts, they could not find the old lady
anywhere, when they resumed the evening pooja, Durga revealed through the Arul Vakku
on one of the devotees that it was she who came as the 300th Sumangali.
