Sundareswarar Temple,
Annappanpettai – Legends
Ekadasa
Rudra Kshetrams & Ekadasa Divyadesams:
As per legend, Lord Shiva performed his rudra thandava
at Thirunangur after the death of his consort Sati in the Daksha Yajna. His
dance was so aggressive that whenever a lock of hair from Lord Shiva touches
the ground, a Rudra, form of Lord Shiva, emerged from the ground. Eleven forms
of Lord Shiva emerged and were performing rudra thandava around Thirunangur.
The eleven places where Lord Shiva performed rudra
thandava are believed to be where the eleven temples in Thirunangur are
located. They are;
1. Sundareswarar Temple,
Annappanpettai (Rudra Peedam)
2. Amirthapureeswarar
Temple, Thirunangur (Soma Peedam)
3. Airavatheswarar Temple,
Perunthottam (Ugra Pirana Peedam)
4. Bhaktavachaleswarar
Temple, Thirunangur (Mahadeva Peedam)
5. Kailasanathar Temple,
Thirunangur (Beema Peedam)
6. Sundareswarar Temple,
Thirunangur (Bava Peedam)
7. Swarnapureeswarar
Temple, Kaathiruppu (Sathyajotha Peedam)
8. Mathangeeswarar Temple,
Thirunangur (Thathpurusha Peedam)
9. Naganathar Temple,
Sempathaniruppu (Sarva Peetam)
10.
Yogeeswarar Temple, Mangaimadam (Vamadeva Peedam)
11. Nayanavaratheswarar
Temple, Nainipuram (Agora Peedam)
The celestial beings were worried that if the dance
continues, it would result in decimation of entire creations. Hence, they
prayed to Lord Vishnu for help, who appeared at this place. Lord
Shiva’s anger got subsidized on seeing Lord Vishnu. Further, Lord Shiva
requested Lord Vishnu to appear in eleven forms like he did. Acceding to his
request, Lord Vishnu appeared in eleven different forms at Thirunangur.
The eleven places where Lord Vishnu appeared are
believed to be where the eleven temples in
Thirunangur are
located. They are;
1. Thiruarimeya Vinnagaram
(Kudamudakoothan Perumal Temple)
2. Thiruchemponsey
(Perarulaalan Perumal Temple)
3. Thirukkavalampadi
(Gopalakrishna Perumal Temple)
4. Thirumanikkoodam
(Varadaraja Perumal Temple)
5. Thirumanimadam
(Narayanan Perumal Temple)
6. Thiruppaarthanpalli
(Thamaraiyaal Kelvan Perumal Temple)
7. Thiruthetriyambalam
(Palli Konda Perumal Temple)
8. Thiruthevanarthogai
(Madhava Perumal Temple)
9. Thiruvaikunda
Vinnagaram (Vaikunta Nathan Perumal Temple)
10. Thiruvanpurushothamam
(Purushotama Perumal Temple)
11. Thiruvellakkulam
(Annan Perumal Temple)
Shiva
Peedam Temples:
Once, Sage Mathanga, Maanseeka Putra of Lord Brahma came
to earth during a maha pralaya. He found the earth was flooded with water and
was searching for a suitable place to perform penance. He could not able to
find a suitable place and sought the help of Sage Narada. Narada suggested him
to go to Swetha Vanam. He found a place and started his intense penance. To
test his devotion, Lord Vishnu took the form of Mohini (enchantress) came to
this place and tried to disturb his penance.
Angered by his act, Sage Mathanga cursed Lord Vishnu to
be in feminine form forever. Lord Vishnu sought his pardon and asked for relief
from the curse. Sage Mathanga advised Lord Vishnu to worship Lord Shiva just
like him for relief. As advised Lord Vishnu worshipped Lord Shiva in ten
places, Those ten places are considered as Shiva Peedam Temples.
The Shiva Peedam Temples are;
1. Sundareswarar Temple,
Annappanpettai (Rudra Peedam)
2. Amirthapureeswarar
Temple, Thirunangur (Soma Peedam)
3. Airavatheswarar Temple,
Perunthottam (Ugra Pirana Peedam)
4. Bhaktavachaleswarar
Temple, Thirunangur (Mahadeva Peedam)
5. Kailasanathar Temple,
Thirunangur (Beema Peedam)
6. Sundareswarar Temple,
Thirunangur (Bava Peedam)
7. Swarnapureeswarar
Temple, Kaathiruppu (Sathyajotha Peedam)
8. Mathangeeswarar Temple,
Thirunangur (Thathpurusha Peedam)
9. Naganathar Temple, Sempathaniruppu
(Sarva Peetam)
10.
Yogeeswarar Temple, Mangaimadam (Vamadeva Peedam)
11. Nayanavaratheswarar
Temple, Nainipuram (Agora Peedam)
Sundareswarar:
As
per legend, a sage named Shakti, an ardent devotee of Lord Shiva, lived in this
place along with his wife, Thirashanti. Sage Shakti was killed by a demon
called Udhiran when his wife was pregnant. She gave birth to a son after the
death of her husband and she named him as Parasara. He became a renowned sage
and great scholar of Vedas & scriptures. When he came to know about the
death of his father at the hands of the demon Udhiran, he conducted a Yagna to
annihilate the demon. The demon was killed successfully. However, he was
afflicted with the sin of killing the demon.
In
order to get relief from the sin, he went on pilgrimage to several Shiva
Temples. Finally, he came to this
place. Lord Shiva appeared before him as a handsome man and provided relief
to his sin. As Lord Shiva appeared handsome (Sundaram) man to Sage Parasara,
Lord came to be called as Sundareswarar. It is said that Sage Parasara was an
expert in astrology. Hence, people interested in astrology pray to Lord Shiva
of this
temple to seek his blessings.
Azhagammai:
As
per legend, once, a trader from this region was suffering from chronic stomach
pain. He undertook pilgrimage to several Shiva temples. During his pilgrimage,
he visited Then
Thirumullaivasal Temple and worshipped Lord Shiva for relief. He pain was
partially relieved in Then
Thirumullaivasal by the grace of Lord Shiva. Subsequently, he continued his
pilgrimage along the seashore. He found an idol of goddess Parvathy on his way.
He
offered his worship to goddess Parvathy and was completely relieved of his
stomach pain. He came to know that the idol was installed by a fisherman in
this place. It is said that the fisherman found the idol in the sea during his
fishing trip. The trader took rest near the idol due to his tedious journey.
Lord Shiva appeared in his dream and directing him to the install the idol of
the goddess Parvathy in the Annappanpettai
Sundareswarar Temple as there was no Parvathy shrine in the
temple.
As
instructed, he carried the idol and installed in this
temple. As the idol looks beautiful (Azhagu in Tamil), she came to be
called as Azhagammai. To commemorate this event, the idol of goddess Parvathy
will be alone taken to the sea shore for Theerthavari during Masi Maham
festival. It is unique to notice that Lord Shiva will not accompany Goddess
Parvathy in the Theerthavari procession.
Vilva Vana Nathar:
It
is believed that the
place was abounded with Vilva Trees during ancient times. Hence, the
place came to be called as Vilvaranyam
and Lord Shiva came to be called as Vilva Vana Nathar.
Kalikkaamoor:
As
Lord Shiva of this
temple removes all hardships due to kali, the
place came to be called as Kalikkaamoor.