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Thursday, October 21, 2021

Siddhanatheswarar Temple, Thirunaraiyur – Legends

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.