Sarguneswarar Temple, Karuveli – Legends
Place
for Total Salvation:
According to Hindu belief, those who pray at the
Sarguneswarar Temple will not be reborn and instead attain salvation. The
lesson is that having been born to a wicked person in the past birth, even the
divine Mother had to be born again to get back her Lord so that she would not
have to be born again. Those worshipping in this temple will have the
eternal happiness of total salvation. Hence the place came to be known as
Karu Illai meaning that there would be no entering into a womb again. In
course of time, it got changed as Karuveli which is also an apt name meaning
that the place was a fence not allowing a further birth.
Sarguna
Nathar:
The place is believed to help one to retain all his/her
noble traits forever and also reform him/her completely from previous wicket
qualities. The Lord therefore is praised as Sarguna Nathar (Sargunam-noble
traits).
Lord
Shiva married Mother Parvathi and stayed here:
King Daksha, son-in-law of Lord Shiva conducted a Yagna
without inviting the Lord. The celebration went on in the absence of Lord
Shiva. However, Dakshayani, daughter of Daksha and consort of Lord Shiva
visited the Yagna though prevented by Lord. Daksha humiliated her. Unable
to bear the insult, Mother Dakshayani fell on the Yagna fire and ended herself.
Lord Shiva flew into passion, came to the Yagna spot, carried the body of Dakshayani
and began to dance.
His furious dance shook all the worlds. People in
all the worlds trembled. All went to Sri Narayana – Vishnu – and begged him to
quench the fury of Lord Shiva. Lord Narayana applied his discus, cut Dakshayani
body to pieces which fell in 51 places and they became Maha Shakti
Peetas. Lord Siva who then was though appeared to be pacified
but continued in a status of having lost his mental peace. He came to the
forest site known as Amba Samuthiram close to Karuveli village.
When he was under penance, he saw the face of Parvathi
the daughter of Himavan. Parvathi also came to Karuveli carrying all her beauty
(Sarvanga Sundari) with her and danced before Lord Shiva. The place where she
performed the dance is now known as Kottittai. Lord Siva married Sarvanga
Sundari (Parvati) at Mount Kailash and stayed at the Karuveli temple.
People
worshipped Shiva here:
There is also a story that Indira the King among the
Devas came here and worshipped Siva and Parvathi. Devas, Rudhra gananms and a
king by name Sargunan worshipped Shiva here.
Yama
Theertham:
Yama Raja constructed a temple tank opposite to the
temple and offered prayer to the swami after taking a dip in the tank to get
solace and overcome a curse. The tank is still called as Yama Theertham.
Story
behind the name Sarguneswarar:
King Sarguna worshipped and was blessed
by Lord Siva, hence the name Sarguneswarar for Lord Siva in this
place.
