Punya Koteeswarar Temple,
Kanchipuram – Legends
Lord Vishnu and Gajendra worshipped Lord Shiva here:
There was once an elephant named
Gajendra who lived in a garden called Ritumat, created by Varuna.
This garden was located on Mount Trikuta
(Three Peaked Mountain). Gajendra ruled over all the other elephants in the herd.
One day as usual he went to the lake nearby to pick lotus flowers to offer
prayer to Lord Vishnu. Suddenly, a crocodile living in the lake attacked
Gajendra and caught him by the leg.
Gajendra tried for a long time
to escape from the crocodile's clutches. As the struggle was seemingly endless
and when he had spent his last drop of energy, Gajendra called upon Lord Vishnu to
save him, holding a lotus up in the air as an offering. Hearing his devotee's
call and prayer, Lord Vishnu rushed to the scene. As Gajendra sighted the god
coming, he lifted a lotus with his trunk.
Seeing this, Vishnu was pleased
and with his Sudarshana Chakra, he decapitated the
crocodile. Gajendra prostrated himself before the god. Lord Vishnu, then took to
Kanchipuram and worshipped Lord Shiva here. Lord Shiva appeared before Lord
Vishnu and granted him the boons he wished. The place where Lord Vishnu stayed,
and worshipped Lord Shiva was known as Hasthigiri.
Punniya Kodeeswarar:
It is said that Punniyam
(blessings) earned by worshipping Lord Shiva after taking bath in this temple tank
would be multiplied to crore Punniyam (blessings). Hence Lord Shiva came to be
called as Punniya Kodeeswarar and place came to be called as Punniyakodeesam.
Lord Vishnu in the form of cloud worshipped Lord Shiva
here:
It is said that Lord Vishnu in
the form of cloud, held Lord Shiva and worshipped Lord Shiva at this
temple.
