Chidambara Swamigal Madam,
Thiruporur – Legends
Sri Chidambara Swamigal, the founding guru of Thiruporur
Adheenam was an ardent devotee of Madurai
Meenakshi Amman. Once, he performed penance on Meenakshi Amman without
consuming food for her darshan. He continued his penance for several days and
his health got deteriorated. Pleased with his penance, Goddess Meenakshi
appeared in his dreams. Also, he heard the sound of the anklets of her.
When he opened his eyes, he got a divine view of her feet.
Then, Goddess raised Sri Chidambara Swamigal to his feet and as her hands
touched him, his skin turned golden. She instructed him to build a temple for
Lord Murugan in Thiruporur
as six earlier attempts to build the
temple had failed. As instructed, Sri Chidambara Swamigal went to Thiruporur
and found the area was a dense forest abounded with palm trees.
He searched for an idol of Muruga, but his efforts were
in vain. Even, he could not find any evidence of any previous attempts to build
the
temple. When he failed to locate the site, Lord Muruga himself appeared in the
form of a small boy showed him the location. Chidambara Swamigal unearthed the
Swayambhu Moorthy (self-manifested idols) of Lord Muruga with his consorts and established
the
temple.
There is a separate shrine dedicated to him in the
temple and he is given special respect during the Vaikasi Visakam festival.
During the last event of the festival, he is depicted merging with the
presiding deity. The descendants of Chidambara Swamigal followed up the
religious service and brought it to the present day fame.