Sathyagireeswarar Temple,
Senganur – Legends
Chandikeswarar:
Chandikeswarar is one of the
63 Nayanmars. He is the only Nayanmar with the
Eswara title. He is considered to be the guardian of the temple belongings.
Hence, devotees clap their hands to show that they are leaving the temple
empty-handed. It is also customary to leave even the sacred ash inside the
temple itself. According to Periyapuranam, he was born into a Brahmin family
in Seignalur
(Senganur) and was called Visarasarman.
His parents were Echa Dattan and Pavitrai. He learnt all arts in his young age.
His Upanayanam (sacred thread
ceremony) was performed when he was seven. He had no thoughts in mind but Lord
Shiva alone. One day when Visarasarman was playing with his friends, he saw a
cowherd beating a cow with a stick that attempted to hit him. Visarasarman told
the cowherd that beating a cow was sin as all the 33 crore gods were considered
to reside in her and she is very important for survival of humans as well as
for the continuance of rituals. He offered to take forth the task of
herding the cows from then on.
The cow herd readily agreed as
he was tired of managing unruly animals. So, from the next day Visarasarman
took up cow herding as his duty and cared for the cattle. As he was as
kind as a mother, the cows produced plenty of milk. As Visarasarman was always
drowned in Shiva thoughts, he made a Linga with the sands of Manniyaru River,
installed it under an Aathi tree and performed pujas and abishek with the milk
he got from the cows. The cows also gave high measures of milk to their owners
too.
Those who saw Visarasarman
performing abishekam to Lord with the milk of the cows complained that he was
wasting the milk meant for yajnas. His father too saw him doing pujas
abishekam from a hiding. The angry father beat him and upset the milk
pots. As Visarasarman was deep in his worship, not knowing the person upsetting
the milk pots, attacked him with a stick, still continuing his worship.
The stick turned into an axe and
cut the legs of the father. Lord Shiva along with Mother Parvathi granted
darshan to Visarasarman and said that he cut his father’s legs because of his
devotion and thenceforth he would be his father and honoured with Kondrai
flower garland. He was wearing then. Lord also named him Chandikeswara. It is
believed that Chandikeswarar attained salvation at nearby Thiruvaippadi
on a new moon day on Shivrathri.
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.
Sathyagireeswarar:
Once, a contest arose between
Adisesha and Vayu regarding their prowess. Vayu was tasked with trying to blow
off Adisesha from the holy Meru mountain while
Adisesha was asked to protect the peak with his hood. Adisesha held the Meru
Mount tightly. Vayu blew violently to break the mount. A small piece called
Satyam landed at this
place. Thus, the
place came to be called as Sathyagiri.
The
Temple was built over this hillock. As Lord Shiva resides over Sathyagiri,
he came to be called as Sathyagireeswarar.
Kumara Theertham:
As per legend, Lord Brahma was
punished with imprisonment by Lord Muruga for not knowing
the meaning of Pranava Mantra. This led to a difference of opinion between
Lord Shiva and Muruga. Lord Shiva asked Muruga to
explain the meaning and Muruga extolled to Lord Shiva the meaning of the
Pranava Mantra. Lord Shiva behaved like a student to a teacher, listening with
rapt attention from his son. The incident caused dosha to Muruga. He came to this
place, created a spring called Kumara Theertham and worshipped Shiva
and got relieved of the dosha.
Seignalur:
As per legend, it is believed that
Lord Murugan on his way to destroy demon Surapadma, visited this place. Divine
sculptor Deva Thachan built a great city here for Kumara (Muruga) for his stay.
Hence, the
place came to be called as Kumarapuram.
Lord Murugan excavated a tank, took bath in it and worshipped Lord Shiva for obtaining
Rudra Pasupatha missile. Pleased with his worship, Lord Shiva bestowed Lord
Murugan with Rudra Pasupatha missile. As Child (Sei in Tamil) Muruga worshipped
here, the place came to be called as Sei
Nallur (Seignalur) and later got corrupted to Senganur.
There is big shrine for Lord Muruga in this
temple.
Kaambeeli King Sibi Chakravarthy attained salvation
here:
As per legend, Kaambeeli King
Sibi Chakravarthy undertook a pilgrimage to get relief from his graha dosha. He
visited Triveni Sangamam, Narmada, Godavari and various other pilgrimage sites.
He finally reached Senganur
and worshipped Sathyagireeswarar. He decided to stay in this
place for short duration. He built 365 houses in this
place and brought 365 brahmin families, who were well versed in
vedic scriptures, from all over the country to reside here for vedic chanting
throughout the year in Senganur.
But, one family could not reach Senganur.
Sibi Chakravarthy was worried about the vacant house.
Lord Kailasnathar and Shivaloka
Nayagi in the guise of old Brahmin couple got the house from the King. When
Sibi came to the brahmin settlement, in the morning to enquire about the well
beings of inhabitants, he found the house offered to the old brahmin couple was locked from
inside and without a response. Sibi broke open the door, he was surprised to
have darshan of Lord Shiva and Parvathy inside the houses. This house can be still
seen in the southern tip of the brahmin settlement called as Swamy Veedu (House
of Lord Shiva). It is believed that King Sibi took a bath in the Theertham and
attained salvation at this temple.
Thai Brahmotsavam:
As per legend, King Harichandra
stayed in Senganur
for short period of time. He excavated Appan Kulam (Oma Kunda Theertham) during
his stay. It is said that he introduced the annual Brahmotsavam in the month of
Thai beginning on Uttaradhi. The Chariot Festival is celebrated on Punarpoosam
with the Theerthavari Utsavam the next day.
People worshipped Lord Shiva here:
Lord Murugan, Chandikeswarar,
Kochengata Chola, Sambandar, Emperor Sibi, King Harichandra had worshipped Lord
in this
temple.