Adi Kumbeswarar Temple, Shenbagapuram – Legends
Once, Sage Narada visited the celestial court
of Lord Shiva at Mount
Kailash to present to him a fruit, the Gyana Pazham (the fruit of
knowledge). Lord Shiva intended to share the fruit among his two sons, Ganesha and
Murugan but the sage Narada was against the idea of cutting it. Lord Shiva decided
to award it to whichever of his two sons first circled the world thrice.
Accepting the challenge, Karthikeya started his journey
around the globe on his mount peacock. However, Ganesha, who surmised that the
world was no more than his parents Shiva and Shakti combined,
circumambulated them. Pleased with their son's discernment, Lord Shiva awarded
the fruit to Ganesha. When Kartikeya returned, he was furious to learn that his
efforts had been in vain.
He left Kailash
and took up his abode in the Palani
hills in South India. Lord Ganesha felt that he ought to have yielded to his
brother and sacrificed the fruit for his brother. Lord Ganesha was unable to
bear the separation from his brother. Hence, he decided to perform penance for
offending his brother. He could not be stopped by his parents. So, Lord
Shiva advised him to perform penance in this
place dense with Shenbaga trees.
Lord Shiva came to this
region to protect his son at the request of Mother Parvathi. Lord Shiva set
himself in five places in the form of five Lingams representing the Pancha
Boodhas (water, fire, space, wind and earth). The five temples housing
these Lingams are situated around Shenbagapuram.
They are;
1. Shenbagapuram Thirumoolanathar Temple
2. Mohanur Adi Kumbeswarar Temple
3. Singamangalam Shivapureeswarar Temple
4. Killukudi Agastheeswarar Temple
5. Anaikudi Somanathar Temple
Astonishingly, there are no temples located between
these temples and this
temple confirming that these five Lords stand as protectors to Vinayaga of this
temple. Lord Shiva conferred the title of Eshwara to Ganesha after his
penance and requested his son to raise as a Swayambhu Moorthy in this
temple and bless the devotees in his place. Thus, the Vinayaga came to be
called as Adi Kumbeswara. The shape of the Vinayaga is slightly irregular in this
temple.