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Tuesday, October 5, 2021

Punya Koteeswarar Temple, Kanchipuram – Legends

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.