Rathnagiriswarar Temple,
Thirumarugal – Religious Significance
Mada Kovils:
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.
Paadal Petra Sthalams:
This
Temple is considered as one of the shrines of the 276 Paadal
Petra Sthalams glorified in the early
medieval Thevaram hymns. This
Temple is the 197th Devara
Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam and 80th sthalam
on the south side of river Cauvery in Chozha Nadu.
Lord Murugan of this Temple is praised by Saint Arunagirinathar in his revered Thirupugazh hymns.
