Marudamalai Murugan Temple – Legends
Pampatti Siddhar:
Pampatti Siddhar was one of
the 18 Siddhars, a lineage of monks or sages who lived at various time
periods in India, mainly southern India. He lived during the 12th
century CE. He was greatly revered in the Kongu region. Some of his poems,
roughly around 600 lines of text are available today. His poems are written in
Tamil and he is famous for finishing his poems with the term Addu Pambe (means dance,
o snake). Even his poems are addressed to snakes.
Some of his poems also addresses his spiritual
teacher or guru. Pampatti Siddhar comes from the line of saints who are
believed to have possessed siddhis or supernatural powers through
rigorous meditation and other spiritual exercises. He is also believed to have
caught snakes and sold them for living before he ventured into his spiritual
quest. He is credited with having lived in the company of snakes and made them
dance to his tunes. He himself was delighted to dance with them.
He came to this place to find a
snake having a gem (Nagaratna Pambu). He met Sattai Muni Siddhar during his
wandering in Marudha Malai. He told him that the purpose of life was to find
the snake in the human body (Kundalini), control it by yoga and added that what
he was doing was sheer waste. Further, he initiated him into the art of
entering into trances (the Jeeva Samadhi Nilai).
Pampatti Siddhar realized his
ignorance and performed intense penance on Lord Muruga near Marudha Tree (Terminalia
arjuna) in Marudamalai. Lord Murugan is said to have appeared as a snake
to him. Later, Lord Murugan appeared along with his consorts Valli and Devasena
before him. Murugan saw the excessive tiredness and thirst of Pampatti Siddhar
due to the intense penance. Lord Murugan made the water gush out from the roots
of Marudham tree.
The theertham formed by this
water came to be called as Siddha Marudha Theertham. Overjoyed by the kindness
of Lord Murugan, Pampatti Siddhar praised Lord Murugan as Marudajalapathi (Lord
of Marudham and water) and later got corrupted to Marudachalapathi. It is said
that there is underground passage connecting the cave shrine of Pampatti
Siddhar with the main shrine. Pampatti Siddhar used to visit the main shrine
through this tunnel.
Pampatti Siddhar had also attained
the eight supernatural powers called Ashtamasiddhi during his stay here. Also,
he lived in places like Mahalinga Malai in Vathiraayiruppu, Kollimalai and
Bhavani. He is believed to have attained Samadhi by practicing his
rigorous techniques in Sankarankovil and Vaasi Techniques in
Thirukadavur, Nagapattinam District. His duration of life is believed to
be 123 Years.
Kuthirai Kulambukkal:
As per legend, once, some
robbers entered the temple and robbed the treasures of the temple in a box.
Lord Murugan intercepted the robbers by riding in a horse and recovered the
stolen treasures from them. Further, Lord Murugan cursed the thieves to became
stones for their sinful act of plundering the treasures belonging to the temple.
The petrified form of thieves (three stones in diverse colours) can be noticed
towards the northern side in the distant hills from the foot hill.
There is a flat stone below
these stone forms. It is said that it is the jewel box stolen by the thieves. It
is believed that the horse on which Lord Muruga rode and chased the robbers
might have imprinted the hoof marks on the rock. The hoof marks of the horse
called Kuthirai Kulambukkal can be seen on the way to the temple. There is a
sculpture depicting Lord Muruga on a horse.
Devas stay at Marudamalai:
As per Perur Puranam, the demon Surapadma
along with his mighty brothers Singamukha and Taraka defeated the devas. Distraught
devas approached Lord Shiva for protection. He comforted devas that Lord
Murugan would come to their rescue and annihilate Surapadma at appropriate
time. Further, he advised the devas to stay at Marudamalai hills till the
advent of Lord Murugan.
Hills in Somaskanda form:
As per Perur Puranam,
Velliangiri Hill, Nili Hill and Marudamalai are considered as the very
manifestations of Lord Shiva, Goddess Parvati and Lord Murugan. Thus, the three
hills combined together represents the symbol of Somaskanda.
King Kusathvajan blessed with male child after
worshipping Murugan here:
As per legend, a king named Kusathvajan
worshipped Marudamalai Murugan for child boon and blessed with a male child.
Kamadenu grazed the pastures of Marudamalai:
As per legend, Kamadhenu, the
divine cow is said to have grazed in the pastures of the hills of Marudamalai.
Marudamalai:
As the hill was abounded with
Marudham Tree (Terminalia arjuna), the hill came to be called as Marudamalai / Marudhachalam.
Marudhachala Moorthy:
As Lord Murugan is enshrined in
this hill, he came to be called as Marudachalapathi / Marudhachala Moorthy.
