Sunday, January 9, 2022

Nanjundeswarar Temple, Karamadai – Legends

Nanjundeswarar Temple, Karamadai – Legends

During the churning of the Ocean of Milk (Samudra Manthana), Mount Mandara was used as the churning rod, and Vasuki, a Nagaraja who abides on Lord Shiva's neck, became the churning rope. During the churning process, the Halahala poison escaped from the mouth of the serpent king Vasuki. This terrified the gods and demons because the poison was so powerful that it could destroy all of creation. Despite this, the Devas and the Asuras pulled back and forth on the snake's body alternately, causing the mountain to rotate, which in turn churned the ocean.

The Devas then approached Lord Shiva for protection. Lord Shiva consumed the poison. As Lord Shiva drank the poison (Nanju), he came to be called as Nanjundeswarar. Lord Shiva was suffering intense pain due to the Halahala poison. Mother Parvati immediately places a hand on his throat, stopping the poison to flow any further, and by her Maya stopped it forever.

As a result, his throat turned blue and he was henceforth called Neelakantha (the blue-throated one; Neela – blue, Kantha – throat in Sanskrit). The timely intervention of Mother Parvathy prevented the Halahala poison entering Lord Shiva body beyond his throat. Thus, she saved Lord Shiva and thereby the world. Hence, she came to be called as Loka Nayagi.