Sunday, February 4, 2018

Brahmapureeswarar Temple, Thirupattur – Legends

Brahmapureeswarar Temple, Thirupattur – Legends
Brahmapureeswarar:
Lord Brahma’s overwhelming pride as the Creator of the Universe. Lord Brahma felt that he was more prevailing than Lord Shiva – since he had the supremacy of creation. This sense of pride provoked Lord Shiva, who destroyed Lord Brahma’s Fifth Head, and also cursed him that he would lose his power of creation. To relieve himself of this curse, Lord Brahma started out on a pilgrimage of Lord Shiva Temples.
During his pilgrimage, Lord Brahma also visited this temple and installed 12 Shiva Lingams around Brahmapureeswarar and worshipped Lord Shiva here for a considerable time. Being moved by Lord Brahma's prayers, Lord Shiva, on Devi Parvathi’s appeal, gave him Darshan under the Magizha tree and liberated him from his curse. Lord Shiva also restored the power and responsibility of creation to Lord Brahma.
Lord Shiva also blessed Lord Brahma that he would have a separate shrine at this temple. He also advised Lord Brahma that since Brahma himself had his destiny rewritten here; He should rewrite the destiny of his devotees visiting this temple. Since the fate of Lord Brahma, the Creator, himself was changed by Lord Shiva at Tirupattur, one can expect a turning point in life by praying at this temple.
Samadhi of Sage Patanjali:
There is a story that Sage Patanjali with snake legs and author of astrological science attained Siddhi (salvation) in 10 shrines. This is one among them. His Samadhi (Tomb) is in the temple. It is believed that he is still alive and continues to write the Yoga Sutras. The sage still graces mankind from his tomb authoring holy books.
Lord Shiva cursed Lord Brahma for telling a lie:
This story also explains Lord Shiva's supremacy and the story behind why he is அடி முடி காணாதவர் (One who doesn't have a beginning or an end). Once Lord Brahma and Lord Vishnu had a dispute as to who among them was superior. They approached Lord Shiva and asked his judgement on this. Lord Shiva then took the form of a huge Linga and said whoever could see the top or bottom of the Linga and return first would be declared superior. Lord Vishnu took the form of a boar and started digging the earth to reach the bottom, whereas Lord Brahma took the form of a swan and started flying towards the top.
Lord Vishnu accepted his defeat as he couldn't get to the bottom. This proves Lord Vishnu's modesty and simplicity. Lord Brahma couldn't accept defeat easily, he saw a Ketaki flower flying down from the top. He inquired the flower as to where it was coming from. Ketaki said that it was coming down from the top of the Lingam. Lord Brahma then took him into confidence and requested Ketaki to testify to Lord Shiva that Brahma had indeed seen the top of the lingam.
On hearing this false story, an enraged Lord Shiva, cursed Lord Brahma for telling a lie, that Lord Brahma would not be worshiped and would not be having a temple anymore. Lord Shiva also cursed the Ketaki flower that it would not be used for puja hence forth. Hence Lord Brahma doesn't have a temple. Also, this was the first day when Lord Shiva took the form of a huge Linga whose top or bottom could not be assessed and is hence it is worshiped as Mahasivarathri day.