Sakshinatheswarar Temple,
Thiruppurambiyam – Legends
Sakshinatheswarar:
As per
legend, Ratnavali, daughter of wealthy Chettiyar from Poompuhar visited this
temple with her fiancé, Dhanaguptan of Madurai. Unfortunately, the youth
died of snake bite but was restored to life by Saint Gnanasambandar who was
incidentally present in the place by singing hymns in praise of Lord Shiva.
Lord Shiva was very much pleased with the request of his devotee and
Dhanaguptan woke up from the death bed as if nothing had happened to him.
Sambandar
also conducted their wedding, with Lord Shiva and the Vanni tree as witnesses.
Lord Shiva later on went to Madurai
to testify as a witness and confirmed that the marriage of these two people was
indeed fixed earlier. As Lord Shiva testified as a witness, he came to be
called as Sakshinatheswarar. The Vanni tree is in the second prakara. This
episode finds a chapter in Thiruvilayadal Puranam (an epic on Lord Shiva
written by Paranjothi Munivar) and also in the Sthalapuranam.
Pralayam Katha Vinayagar:
There
is a unique Vinayaga named Pralayam Katha Vinayagar (Pralayam means destruction
of Earth by the forces of Sea Water, Katha means Safe guard, Vinayagar means
Lord Ganesha) in the temple premises. It is believed that during the end of
Kritha Yuga, the Earth was destroyed by the water forces of 7 Seas. Thiruppurambiyam
existed during the Kritha Yuga and Lord Shiva wished to preserve this
place and hence, ordered his son, Lord Vinayaga to safeguard this
place.
Lord
Ganesha using the powers of Pranava Mantra (Om) controlled the forces of the seven
seas into one well and saved this
place from Pralaya. Devotees can see the well that contained seven seas in the
temple premises even today. The Well is known as Ezhu Kadal Kinaru or
Saptha Sagara Koopam. Lord Varuna created an idol of Lord Ganesha from sea
shells & other materials obtained from the sea and worshipped him as
Pralayam Katha Vinayakar.
This
idol of Ganesha is still worshiped in this
temple. On the night before Vinayaka Chathurthi, a special anointing with
100 kgs of honey is done to Vinayaga. The anointing with honey is performed
throughout the night. During the anointing, the honey poured on the idol will
be absorbed by the Idol. The deity shines like made of Gold on that day. No
abishek is done during other days.
Thiruppurambiyam:
According
to the legend, during the great deluge (Pralayam) of the earth, the flood
waters did not enter this particular place and branched off. Hence this place
came to be called as Thiruppurambiyam.
King Haridwajan got cured of
Muyalagam here:
King
Haridwajan of Magadha Kingdom was suffering from a disease called Muyalagam due
to the curse of Sage Durvasa got cured in this
temple by the grace of Lord Shiva.
Lord Shiva darshan to poor
woodcutter:
It is
believed that Lord Shiva granted darshan to a poor woodcutter in the form of
Dakshinamoorthy who was carrying fuel to the
temple from the banks of the tank in the east of the
temple.
Other Names:
Thirupurambiyam
was called as Kalyanamaanagar and Punnagavanam in ancient times.
People worshipped Lord Shiva
here:
It is
believed that Sage Agasthya, Dronacharya, Brahma, Sugriva, four Sanakathi
rishis and Sage Vishwamitra worshipped Lord Shiva here.