Siddhanatheswarar Temple,
Thirunaraiyur – Legends
Birthplace of Maha Lakshmi:
As per legend, Sage Medhavi
aspired that Mother Mahalakshmi be born his daughter and prayed to Lord Shiva
to realize his wish. Lord Shiva spoke to Lord Vishnu to allow Mother
Mahalakshmi to appear in the form of small girl before Sage Medhavi. Lord Vishnu
gladly obliged. Mother Mahalakshmi appeared on a Lotus flower in Panguni Uthira
star day in March-April. Sage Medhavi named her Vanjula Devi, brought her
up and got her married to Lord Vishnu of Thirunaraiyur
Nambi Temple.
It is said that Lord Shiva and
Mother Parvathy performed the wedding as her parents. As the
temple is considered as birth place of Maha Lakshmi, her idol is in
the form of a small girl. Hence, She came to be called as Mazhalai Mahalakshmi (Mazhalai
means infant). As per custom, after wedding, Mahalakshmi is believed to have
been sent to the nearby Thirunaraiyur Nambi Temple in Nachiyar
Kovil.
As per traditions practiced in
Tamil Nadu, gifts (Seer in Tamil) are taken from the parental house to girl’s
in laws house every year during Deepavali and Pongal festivals. Following this
tradition, Silk sari, bathing items as oil and soap nut powder, cooking pot
(Pongal Panai) jaggery etc are sent from this temple (her birth house) on
Pongal and Deepavali festival days to Thirunaraiyur
Nambi Temple. Lord Shiva and Mother Ambika visit Thirunaraiyur
Nambi Temple, the day next to Vaikunda Ekadasi in December-January to
see the Mazhalai Mahalakshmi.
Siddhanatheswarar:
Gorakkar, one of the 18 Siddhars
had to incur a curse of the Devas and was afflicted with skin disease. He
came to this place and worshipped Lord Shiva for relief. Lord granted darshan
to Gorakkar Siddhar and cured him. Hence, Lord Shiva came to be called as Siddhanatheswarar
and the place came to be called as Siddheeswaram.
There is a relief depicting Gorakka Siddhar worshiping Lord Shiva in the walls
of the
temple. It is also said that other renowned Siddhars too worshipped
Lord Shiva here. The idols of various siddhas are seen all over the
temple. Those suffering from skin diseases perform abishek to Siddhar
with oil on full moon days and Fridays and apply it on their body as a medicine
for relief.
Naraiyur:
As per legend, Sages Naran and
Narayanan performed penance here. Sage Durvasa visited this
place while they were in deep meditation. Since they were in deep
meditation, they did not pay any attention to Sage Durvasa. Sage Durvasa was
enraged and cursed them to become cranes (Narai in Tamil). Both of them in the
form of birds worshipped Lord Shiva here. Lord Shiva restored them back to
their original forms. As Crane (Narai) worshipped Lord Shiva here, the place
came to be called as Naraiyur.
There is a beautiful relief depicting Naran and Narayanan worshipping Lord
Shiva can be found in the walls of the
temple.
Relief from diseases:
There was once a merchant
called Chitra Gupta who was suffering from an incurable disease. It is believed
that he consumed a small portion of the oil that was used for performing Abhishekam
to Lord Shiva and was miraculously cured. It is believed that by performing
abhishekam and drinking the abhisheka oil of this deity cures any type of skin
disease.
People worshipped Lord Shiva here:
It is believed that Murugan,
Brahma, Vishnu and Kubera, the Devas, Sage Markandeya, Sage Durvasa, Arjuna,
Gandharvas, Siddhars, Appar, Sundarar and Thirugnanasambanthar worshiped Lord
Shiva here.
Other Names of this place:
The place was called as Sidheeswaram, Sugantha Vanam, Narapuram, Kuberapuram and Brahmapuram.
