Gokarnesvarar Temple,
Thirukokarnam – Legends
Gokarnesvarar:
As per legend, once celestial cow Kamadhenu was
late to attend the court of Indra. Indra banished the celestial cow from heaven
and cursed her to live the life of an ordinary cow on earth. Kamadhenu came to
earth and sought the advice of Sage Kapila who had his hermitage in the forest
in this place. Sage Kapila advised her to carry Ganga water in its ears each
day and perform ablutions to the Shiva Linga under the Magizha tree. Kamadhenu
worshipped Lord Shiva as advised by Sage Kapila.
Once, when Kamadhenu was going for the worship, Lord
Shiva, to test its determination, intercepted in the guise of a tiger at Thiruvengaivasal
and threatened to devour her. Kamadhenu begged tiger to leave her as she was on
her way to Shiva Pooja. She promised to return back. She was allowed to go on
condition that she returned immediately after the worship was over. The cow, as
promised, returned to the tiger after finishing her Shiva Pooja. The tiger
changed its shape and granted darshan with Parvathi. Lord Shiva carried the cow
to heaven.
The place where the tiger confronted the cow came to be
called as Thiru
Vengai Vaasal (Vengai means tiger). As Lord Shiva received the Ganga
water through the ears of the cow, he came to be called as Gokarnesvara and the
place came to be called as Thiru
Gokarnam. It is said that the Sunai on the top of the hill, was cut
by the cow with her horn to store the ganga water from her ear and a cleft on
the top of the Lingam is said to be the hoof print of Kamadhenu as she bathed
the idol in the sacred water.
Perpetual
lamp in Brahadambal Shrine:
As per local folklore, when Thondaiman King, ruler of
Pudukottai State, was on a voyage in ocean, a small girl woke him up during
night and informed him about the fire in his ship. The alerted King found the
fire was spreading in his ship. The fire was immediately put out. The King
believed that his patron deity Brahadambal came in the form of small girl and
informed him about the impending danger. As a gratitude, even today, there is a
lamp which remains lit all the 24 hours in the sanctum of her shrine and is
covered with a silver basket.