Airavatheswarar Temple,
Perunthottam – Legends
Ekadasa
Rudra Kshetrams & Ekadasa Divyadesams:
As per legend, Lord Shiva performed his rudra thandava
at Thirunangur after the death of his consort Sati in the Daksha Yajna. His
dance was so aggressive that whenever a lock of hair from Lord Shiva touches
the ground, a Rudra, form of Lord Shiva, emerged from the ground. Eleven forms
of Lord Shiva emerged and were performing rudra thandava around Thirunangur.
The eleven places where Lord Shiva performed rudra
thandava are believed to be where the eleven temples in Thirunangur are
located. They are;
1. Sundareswarar Temple,
Annappanpettai (Rudra Peedam)
2. Amirthapureeswarar
Temple, Thirunangur (Soma Peedam)
3. Airavatheswarar Temple,
Perunthottam (Ugra Pirana Peedam)
4. Bhaktavachaleswarar
Temple, Thirunangur (Mahadeva Peedam)
5. Kailasanathar Temple,
Thirunangur (Beema Peedam)
6. Sundareswarar Temple,
Thirunangur (Bava Peedam)
7. Swarnapureeswarar
Temple, Kaathiruppu (Sathyajotha Peedam)
8. Mathangeeswarar Temple,
Thirunangur (Thathpurusha Peedam)
9. Naganathar Temple,
Sempathaniruppu (Sarva Peetam)
10.
Yogeeswarar Temple, Mangaimadam (Vamadeva Peedam)
11. Nayanavaratheswarar
Temple, Nainipuram (Agora Peedam)
The celestial beings were worried that if the dance
continues, it would result in decimation of entire creations. Hence, they
prayed to Lord Vishnu for help, who appeared at this place. Lord
Shiva’s anger got subsidized on seeing Lord Vishnu. Further, Lord Shiva
requested Lord Vishnu to appear in eleven forms like he did. Acceding to his
request, Lord Vishnu appeared in eleven different forms at Thirunangur.
The eleven places where Lord Vishnu appeared are
believed to be where the eleven temples in
Thirunangur are
located. They are;
1. Thiruarimeya Vinnagaram
(Kudamudakoothan Perumal Temple)
2. Thiruchemponsey
(Perarulaalan Perumal Temple)
3. Thirukkavalampadi
(Gopalakrishna Perumal Temple)
4. Thirumanikkoodam
(Varadaraja Perumal Temple)
5. Thirumanimadam
(Narayanan Perumal Temple)
6. Thiruppaarthanpalli
(Thamaraiyaal Kelvan Perumal Temple)
7. Thiruthetriyambalam
(Palli Konda Perumal Temple)
8. Thiruthevanarthogai
(Madhava Perumal Temple)
9. Thiruvaikunda
Vinnagaram (Vaikunta Nathan Perumal Temple)
10. Thiruvanpurushothamam
(Purushotama Perumal Temple)
11. Thiruvellakkulam
(Annan Perumal Temple)
Shiva
Peedam Temples:
Once, Sage Mathanga, Maanseeka Putra of Lord Brahma came
to earth during a maha pralaya. He found the earth was flooded with water and
was searching for a suitable place to perform penance. He could not able to
find a suitable place and sought the help of Sage Narada. Narada suggested him
to go to Swetha Vanam. He found a place and started his intense penance. To
test his devotion, Lord Vishnu took the form of Mohini (enchantress) came to
this place and tried to disturb his penance.
Angered by his act, Sage Mathanga cursed Lord Vishnu to
be in feminine form forever. Lord Vishnu sought his pardon and asked for relief
from the curse. Sage Mathanga advised Lord Vishnu to worship Lord Shiva just
like him for relief. As advised Lord Vishnu worshipped Lord Shiva in ten
places, Those ten places are considered as Shiva Peedam Temples.
The Shiva Peedam Temples are;
1. Sundareswarar Temple,
Annappanpettai (Rudra Peedam)
2. Amirthapureeswarar
Temple, Thirunangur (Soma Peedam)
3. Airavatheswarar Temple,
Perunthottam (Ugra Pirana Peedam)
4. Bhaktavachaleswarar
Temple, Thirunangur (Mahadeva Peedam)
5. Kailasanathar Temple, Thirunangur
(Beema Peedam)
6. Sundareswarar Temple,
Thirunangur (Bava Peedam)
7. Swarnapureeswarar
Temple, Kaathiruppu (Sathyajotha Peedam)
8. Mathangeeswarar Temple,
Thirunangur (Thathpurusha Peedam)
9. Naganathar Temple,
Sempathaniruppu (Sarva Peetam)
10.
Yogeeswarar Temple, Mangaimadam (Vamadeva Peedam)
11. Nayanavaratheswarar
Temple, Nainipuram (Agora Peedam)
Airavatheswarar:
As per legend, Indra, the King
of Swarga, while riding on the Airavata, came across
Sage Durvasa who offered him a special garland given to him by Lord
Brahma. Indra accepted the gift and placed it on the trunk of the elephant as a
test to prove that he was not an egoistic deva. The flowers on it had a scent
that attracted some bees. Annoyed by the bees, Airavata threw the garland on
the ground.
This enraged the sage as the
garland was a dwelling of Sri (fortune) and was to be treated as
a prasada or religious offering. Durvasa cursed Airavata to roam like
a forest elephant on earth. Airavata visited several Shiva Temples for relief
from the curse. Finally, Airavata came here, worshipped Lord Shiva and got
relieved from the curse. Hence, Lord Shiva came to be called as
Airavatheswarar.
As Lord Shiva is worshipped by
Athi (Elephant – Airavata), Lord Shiva came to be called as Atheeswarar and the
place came to be called as Atheeswaram.
It is said that Lord Ganapathy argued that Airavata should not worship Lord
Shiva here during Airavata’s visit to this
temple. Hence, Lord Ganapathy came to be called as Vathadum Ganapathy
(Vathadum means arguing in Tamil). Shrine of Vathadum Ganapathy can be seen on
the north eastern side of the
temple premises.