Padikasu
Nathar Temple, Azhagaputhur – Legends
Pugazh Thunai Nayanar:
Alagaputhur is the birthplace of Pugalthunai Nayanar,
one of the 63 Nayanmars. Pugazh Thunai Nayanar was a Nayanar saint,
venerated in the Hindu sect of Shaivism. He is generally counted as
the fifty-sixth in the list of 63 Nayanars. The life of Pugazh Thunai Nayanar
is described in the Periya Puranam by Sekkizhar (12th
century), which is a hagiography of the 63 Nayanars. One of the most prominent
Nayanars, Sundarar (8th century CE) venerates Pugazh
Thunai Nayanar in the Tiruthonda Thogai, a hymn to Nayanar saints.
Pugazh Thunai Nayanar was born
in Seruviliputhur, presently known as Alagaputhur and
located in the Thanjavur district of the Indian State of Tamil
Nadu. He belonged to Adi Shaiva sub-sect of Shaivism and belonged to
the Brahmin (priest) caste. The Nayanar was a staunch devotee
of Shiva, the patron god of Shaivism. He worked as the pujari (temple
priest) at the Shiva
temple. The
temple is identified as Padikasu
Nathar Temple of Alagaputhur.
As per his daily priestly
duties, he used to bathe the Lingam (aniconic image of Shiva and central
icon in the temple) with cool and fragrant water. Once, a famine struck the
region and however continued to fetch water and worship the god. His body
became emaciated. Finally, he succumbed to the pangs of hunger and fainted; the
pot of water fell on the lingam and broke. Lord Shiva appeared in Pugazh Thunai Nayanar's
dream and said that he would leave a gold coin daily as a wage so that the
Nayanar can sustain himself till the end of the famine. Hence, Lord Shiva of
Azhagaputhur came to be called as Padikasu Nathar (Padi means allowance &
Kasu means money in Tamil).
Pugazh Thunai Nayanar found a
gold coin daily at the foot of Lingam. He continued his services even after the
famine till end of his life, when he attained Kailash, the abode of Lord Shiva
after death. Sundarar recalls the legend of Pugazh Thunai Nayanar in a hymn in
honour of the Padikasu
Nathar Temple. Pugazh Thunai Nayanar is also worshipped with his
wife Lakshmi in the front mandapa of the Padikasu
Nathar Temple. His descendants continue to serve as the temple
priests.
In honour of Pugazh Thunai
Nayanar's tale, devotees place two coins at the foot of the lingam and take
home one of the coins. Pugazh Thunai Nayanar is worshipped in the Tamil
month of Avani, when the moon enters
the Ashlesha nakshatra (lunar mansion). He is depicted with
folded hands and sometimes holding a pot of water. He receives collective
worship as part of the 63 Nayanars. Their icons and brief accounts of his deeds
are found in many Shiva temples in Tamil Nadu. Their images are taken out in
procession in festivals.
Lord Muruga punished Brahma for not knowing the
meaning of Pranava:
As per legend, Brahma, the
Hindu god of creation, disrespected Muruga (the son of Lord Shiva) at the time
of visiting Mount
Kailash, the abode of Lord Shiva. The child Muruga got angry with
Brahma and asked him how he was creating living beings. Brahma said that he was
creating living beings with the help of the Vedas (Hindu scriptures).
On hearing the reply, Muruga asked Brahma to recite the texts from Vedas. Brahma
started to recite the text with the holy word called Pranava Mantra,
"Om".
At that time Muruga stopped
Brahma and asked him to explain the meaning of the Pranava Mantra. Brahma could
not reply and hence Muruga knocked Brahma on his forehead with his clenched
fists and punished him with imprisonment. Muruga took up the role of the
creator. The Devas (celestial deities) were surprised by the absence of Brahma
and they requested Vishnu to negotiate with Muruga to release Brahma.
Lord Vishnu could not help and
as the last resort, Lord Shiva went to the rescue of Brahma. Lord Shiva came to
Muruga and asked him to release Brahma from imprisonment. Muruga refused to
release him stating Brahma was unaware of the meaning of the Pranava Mantra
(AUM). Lord Shiva asked Muruga to explain the meaning and Muruga extolled to
Shiva the meaning of the Pranava Mantra.
As per the instruction of Lord
Shiva, Muruga returned Brahma his post. Though he was right, Lord
Muruga regretted that he punished an elder and to make amends, he performed
penance in this
place. Lord Shiva appeared before Muruga and said that it was
right to question anyone when he / she commits a mistake but wrong to punish
them.
Lord Muruga with discus & conch:
Lord Shiva planned to end the
increasing atrocities of the demons, sent Lord Muruga to destroy them.
When Muruga began the march, Lord Shiva and Devas offered many powerful
weapons to him. Lord Vishnu gave his discus and conch. With all these weapons,
Muruga destroyed the demons. So that Lord Muruga appears here with discus and conch.
He graces the devotees on the Indra peacock with his consorts Valli and
Deivanai. He is praised as Kalyana Sundara Shanmuga Nathar. The Thiruvatchi (a
metal frame made aesthetically around the deity) is of OHM letter shape
Kochengat Chola was
an early Chola king and one of the 63 Nayanmars (Saivite saints)
of Saivism. He is believed to have attained spiritual rebirth of a
spider that fought with an elephant in its previous birth over the worship of
the Lord Shiva. He had red eyes during birth as he remained in his
mother’s womb a little longer. His mother, looking into the baby red eyes said
Kochengkannano (in Tamil Ko=king, Cheng=red, Kan=eyes), which
literally means king with red eyes and hence he was named Kochengat
Cholan. After becoming a king, he followed Saivism and built 70 Maadakovils,
temples with elevated
structure where elephants cannot reach the sanctum, in the Chola empire. It is
believed that this is one of the temple built by him. Saint Thirugnanasambanthar mentions about Kochengata Chola’s
worship in one of his hymns praising Lord Shiva of this temple.
Arasil Karai Puthur:
This
temple is situated on the southern bank of Arasalaru
River. Hence, the place came to be called as Arasil
Karai Puthur (Arasil refers to Arasalaru River, Karai refers to the
banks and Puthur means Village in Tamil).
People worshipped Lord Shiva here:
Sage Unmaiyananda and Ananda
Muni had worshiped Lord Shiva of this
Temple.
