Tuesday, October 12, 2021

Swaminatha Swamy Temple, Swamimalai – Legends

Swaminatha Swamy Temple, Swamimalai – Legends

Swaminatha Swamy:

As per legend, Brahma, the Hindu god of creation, disrespected Muruga (the son of Shiva) at the time of visiting Mount Kailash, the abode of Shiva. The child Muruga got angry with Brahma and asked him how he was creating living beings. Brahma said that he was creating living beings with the help of the Vedas (Hindu scriptures). On hearing the reply, Muruga asked Brahma to recite the texts from Vedas. Brahma started to recite the text with the holy word called Pranava Mantra, "Om".

At that time Muruga stopped Brahma and asked him to explain the meaning of the Pranava Mantra. Brahma could not reply and hence Muruga knocked Brahma on his forehead with his clenched fists and punished him with imprisonment. Lord Muruga took up the role of the creator. The Devas (celestial deities) were surprised by the absence of Brahma and they requested Vishnu to negotiate with Muruga to release Brahma. Vishnu could not help and as the last resort, Lord Shiva went to the rescue of Brahma.

Lord Shiva came to Muruga and asked him to release Brahma from imprisonment. Muruga refused to release him stating Brahma was unaware of the meaning of the Pranava Mantra (AUM). 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, giving Muruga the name Swaminatha Swami (The Teacher of Lord Shiva). It is in keeping with this legend, the shrine of the son Muruga is atop the hillock, while the father Shiva's shrine is located at the basement.

Swamimalai:

As per another legend, once all sages and gods assembled in Kailash, the abode of Shiva. It resulted in the tilting of earth towards one direction. Lord Shiva asked Sage Agasthya to move towards South to balance the tilt. Agastya employed a demon by name Idumban to carry two hills in his shoulders to be placed in the South. The demon carried the hills down south and rested in a place. When he tried to lift one of the hills, it didn't budge, and he found a young man standing at the top of the hill not allowing it to be moved.

The demon tried to attack the young man but was smitten. Sage Agastya identified the young man as Karthikeya and asked him to pardon the demon. Karthikeya readily did so and let the hill remain there at Pazhani. It is a practice followed in the modern times where people carry milk in both their shoulders as a devotion to please Karthikeya. The demon carried the other hill to Swamimalai.

Lord Shiva learnt Pranava Mantra from Lord Murugan:

As per legend, Sage Bhrigu before commencing an arduous penance, got the boon that anybody disturbing his mediation will forget all his knowledge. Such was the power of the penance that the sacred fire emanating from the head of the saint reached up to the heavens, and the frightened devas surrendered to Lord Shiva praying for his grace. The Lord extinguished the sacred fire by covering the Sage Brighu head by hand thus disturbing his penance. Lord Shiva forgot all his knowledge. He immediately sent for his son Subrahmanya and asked him if he knew the Mantra.

The young Subrahmanya smilingly replied that he does, and he asked Lord Shiva that if only the Lord is prepared to learn the Mantra in a proper manner, then he would teach him. There upon with folded hands and bowed head, Lord Shiva stood before his young Guru (Subrahmanya) with great veneration and learnt the Mantra. As this incident took place in this sacred place it came to be known as Swamimalai and the deity as Swaminathan, indicating that the son was superior to his Father. It is in keeping with this legend that the shrine of Subrahmanya is built on the hillock and that of Lord Shiva below the mound.

Indra worshipped Lord Murugan here:

As per legend, Indra worshipped Subramanya Swamy on the day of Visakam star and gained strength to defeat the demon Harikesa. In the place of the traditional peacock before the Lord, there is elephant here, which was gifted by Indira after the destruction of demon Harikesa, according to scriptures.

Nethra Theertham:

It is said that his Vel weapon that created the Nethra Theertha in the temple. Once, a blind devotee named Sumathi lost his eyesight because of his sins. Sage Bharadhwaja asked him to go and worship Netra Vinayaga and take a dip in the Netra Theertham to get over his sins and regain his sight. It is believed that the devotee took a dip in the sacred waters and regained his sight as he approached the Nethra Vinayagar temple.

Mother Earth worshipped Lord Murugan here:

Mother Earth worshipped Lord Muruga for relief from a curse of Mother Parvathi and even after realizing her boon, she is staying here in the form of a gooseberry tree.

Gurumalai / Gurugiri:

As the Lord Murugan was a Guru to his own father Lord Shiva, the place came to be called as Gurumalai / Gurugiri.