Madhangeeswarar Temple, Nangur – Legends
Mathangeeswarar:
According to Hindu mythology, at the end of every Yuga,
there is a huge flood called Maha Pralayam occurs and the whole world immerses
in a deluge on account of the wrath of Hindu god Shiva for
the sins committed by humans in earth. 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) accompanied by Manmathan, the god of love,
came to this place and tried to disturb his penance. Angered by their act, Sage
Mathanga cursed Manmathan to be burnt to ashes by Lord Shiva.
He then turned towards Mohini to curse her. Before, he
could spell the curse, Lord Vishnu granted his darshan with conch and discus in
Mohini form. Sage Mathanga realized the enchantress is none other than Lord
Vishnu himself. Sage Mathanga sought forgiveness from Lord Vishnu and requested
him to be present in this
temple in Mohini form. Lord Vishnu agreed to his request and blessed
him in his endeavor. There is a separate shrine for Vaikuntavasi and he is
being addressed as Narayani in this
temple.
Sage Mathanga continued with his penance and finally
Lord Shiva appeared before him. Lord Shiva wanted to grant the boons desired by
Sage Mathanga. However, Sage Mathanga did not want anything except to become a
relative of Lord Shiva. Lord Shiva accepted his request and informed the sage
that he would come at an appropriate time and would be his son-in-law. The
sage continued his penance.
Sage Mathanga went to the Manikarunai river for a bath
on a Chitra Poornima day and found a female child floating on a lotus
leaf. He took the child and brought her up like her own daughter. As
she was brought up by Sage Mathanga, she came to be called as Mathangi / Raja
Mathangi. When she attained the marriageable age, the sage reminded Lord Shiva
about his promise.
As promised, Lord Shiva came and married Mathangi and
granted darshan as married couple in this
temple. Thus, Lord Shiva came to be called as Mathangeeswarar. It is
said that the divine marriage took place at Thiruvenkadu.
Though, the custom of dowry is prevalent in Hindu marriage, Lord Shiva did not
take any dowry from Sage Madhanga for the marriage. Devas and other
invitees from the celestial world took it as a weakness of Lord Shiva and spoke
critically.
Lord Shiva told them that it was a wrong practice and
told them that his own assets belong to Mother Madhangi too and sent Nandhi to
bring them from Kailasha
to be given to his bride. In memory of this event, there are two Nandhis in the
temple, the Madhanga Nandhi facing Lord Shiva and the Swetha Nandhi
facing the opposite side. The Swetha Nandi is said to have brought the dowry
from Kailash.
Pradosha pooja is very famous in this temple as this is perhaps one of the few temples
with two Nandis in a single shrine, receiving this pooja.
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)