Moolavar: Sri Valeeswarar
Amman: Sri Irayarvalai Ammbal
A padal petra sthalam and is the sixth temple on the banks of Cauvery in Thondai Mandalam region praised in Thevaram hymns. Gnansambandar has referred to the moolavar here as the one showering his grace from Kuranganilmuttam surrounded by fragrant gardens. Ganasambandar had praised the Ambal in his hymns.
Sage Markandeya who was destined to die at the age of sixteen ventured on a pilgrimage to all Shive sthalams. When he attained the age of sixteen, Yama the Lord of Death appeared before him and threw the rope around his neck which also fell on Lord Shiva. Shiva was raged with anger and cursed Yama and dismissed him from the post for waging the rope while his divotee was worshiping. Markandeya was saved from his untimely death and when Yama pleaded for mercy, shiva told him he would have his darshan on Earth at an appropriate time when he would be restored to his post. Yama came to earth in the form a crow and worshipped Shiva in all temples. And a crow know as Muttam in tamil worshiped the lord in this tenple as well.
Indira, on the other hand once cast his eyes wrongly on the wife of Sage Gautama. As he cast his eyes wrongly on a married woman, he was cursed by the Rishi to have eyes all over his body. Indira came to Lord Shiva pleaded relief from the sin committed by him. He was also advised to undertake pilgrimage in Earth and that He would grace him at an appropriate time. Indira came to earth in the form Anil – Squirrel and worshipped the moolavar of this tenple simultaneously along with Yana as a crow.
Vali, the king of monkeys also came here to worship Lord Shiva at the same time. Vali was a great Shiva Bhakta. Yama and Indira worshipped Shiva along with Vali at the same time and Lord Shiva gave Darshan to the three together and relieved Yama and Indira from the sins.
As prayed by them, He stayed in this place as a Swayambumurthy. The place came to be known as Kurangu Anil Muttam, Kurangu-Monkey, Anil- squirrel, Muttam-crow. You can see the sculptures of the three on the pillars of the temple depicting their worships
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Koyyamalar Nather: Lord Valeeswarar graces in the form of Swayambulinga facing west. The rays of Sun fall at His fee on certain days in the month of Chithirai (April-May). When the monkey king Vali came to worship the Lord, he did not want to pick the flowers by hand but shook the tree making the flowers fall on the Lord. Koyya-not picked, Malar-flowers. As the Lord was worshipped with such direct flowers, He got the name Koyyamalar Nathar.
Sugarcane juice is used for abhishekam in the belief that our life would be as sweet as sugarcane. It is also said that birds and animals having just five senses also worshipped Lord Valeeswara and gained six senses. Devotees are relieved of sins, gifted with wisdom and knowledge.
Ambal with bangles- Mother Irayarvalai Ammai graces from a separate shrine facing west. Vali, Indira and Yama the God of Death worshiped Mother before worshipping the Lord seeking her recommendation to Lord to grace them. Valai means yielding in this context. That the Mother yields to the devotees, brought Her the name Irayar Valai Ammai. Saint Valai also means bangles. Married and pregnant women offer the bangles to the Mother before they wear them hoping that they will be blessed with children and their deliveries would be safe.
Contact: The temple opens by 7 am and kurukal Natarajan can be reached on +919943295467
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