Kottur Kozhundeeswarar Temple – Legends
Indra
made Vajrayudha from the back bone of Sage Thatheesi:
Demon Vruddhasura was harassing the Devas in a terrible
way. Their king Indira appealed to Lord Brahmma for protection. He said
that Indira had to get the back bone of Sage Thatheesi, make a Vajrayudha
weapon of it and should apply it on the demon and that alone could kill him. Lord
Brahmma also explained the secret of the strength of the back bone of the sage.
Before joining the churning the milk ocean, all the Devas entrusted their
weapons with the sage.
The sage simply put all their weapons safely in his
mouth and continued his penance then. All the weapons melted and merged
with his back bone making it miraculously strong. When Indira approached
the sage and expressed his purpose and wish, the sage calmly parted with his
back bone. Indira killed the demon with the weapon but incurred the Brahmahatti
Dosha the impact of the highest sin. Indira approached his Guru for solution.
He advised him to go to earth and perform Shiva puja and
that he would find a Shivalinga at a place under a Vanni tree made of drops of
nectar. Guru also advised Indira to create a spring and perform abishek to
Lord with the water then. Indira followed the advice of the Guru
scrupulously and freed himself from the sin. As Indira worshipped Lord here,
the place was named Indirapuram and also Kottur as his white elephant Iravadham
drew a line (kodu in Tamil) in the place.
Celestial
Dancer Ramba performed severe penance here:
Noted dancer of the celestial world Ramba was cursed to
go to Earth for some wrongs she committed. She performed severe penance facing
the Lord of the temple pressing her left leg, bending the right and placing the
left hand on the right leg and the right hand on the head surrounded by burning
fire to go back to her place.
Worshipped by Devas, Brahma, Indra, Airavatam and
Indrasena
Airaavateeswaram:
The divine elephant Airavatam is associated with this
temple and hence the name Airaavateeswaram.
Brahmma
worshipped Lord Shiva here:
Brahma worshiped Lord Siva under Vanni tree, which is
Sthala Vriksham of the temple, and he was blessed by Lord Siva.
Indrasenan
worshipped Lord Shiva here:
Indrasenan worshiped Lord here, to pardon him for having
ill-treated Brahmins.
Pithru
Parihara Sthalam:
Sthala Purana says rituals for ancestors can be
performed in this place.
