Yogeeswarar Temple,
Mangaimadam – 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)
Yogeeswaram:
As per legend, Lord Aghora Moorthy, a fierce form of
Lord Shiva annihilated the demon Maruthuvasuran in Thiruvengadu.
As he killed the demon, he was afflicted with Brahmahatya dosha. To get relief
from Brahmahatya dosha and to calm his ferocious nature, he came to Mangaimadam
and performed meditation (Yoga) here. Hence, Lord Shiva came to be called as
Yogeeswarar and the place came to be called as Yogeeswaram.
Yogeeswarar &
Yogambal:
As per legend, Twelve rishis performed penance on Lord
Shiva in Mangaimadam.
Lord Shiva appeared before the rishis and blessed them. Hence, Lord Shiva came
to be called as Yogeeswarar and Mother came to be called as Yogambal.
Yoga Dakshinamoorthy:
As per legend, Brihaspati, the guru of Devas and Shukra,
the guru of Asuras were afflicted with graha dosha. Both of them came here,
worshipped Yoga Dakshinamoorthy in this
temple and got relief from the graha dosha.
Mangai Madam:
Mangai
Madam was the headquarters of King Thirumangai, the chieftain of Thiruvali,
a smaller kingdom within the greater Chola Empire. He offered food to 1008
people for a year here to embrace Vaishnavism and marry Kumudhavalli. Thus, the
place came to be called as Mangai
Madam in memory of the Thirumangai. He built an Annachathram to feed people
at this
place.