Famous Temples in India

Religious Significance

Brahma Hathi Dhosham - The legend of a Chola prince who killed a Brahmin and was in turn, pursued by his spirit (brahmahatthi), is associated with the temple. The Chola prince, it is believed, entered the Mahalingeswarar Temple and prayed to his favourite God, Shiva for relief from the clutches of the spirit of the dead Brahmin or brahmahatthi. The Chola prince made his way out through another entrance thereby saving himself. Some sources associate the legend with Pandya king Varagunapandian. It continues till day where people take the second entrance to exit the premises after worship. There is a sculpture of Chola brahmahatthi on the Eastern premises in one of the inner gopurams (tower gateway). Pandiyan King, Varaguna, who, according to tradition, lived in the 7th century A.D. Once he went for hunting in a nearby forest and when he started back home, dusk had already fallen. The Horse, fatigued by the hunt, was anxious to get back to the stables, and literally flew over the path. Meanwhile an aged Brahmin, also travelling through the forest, had called it a day and was lying fast asleep under the shelter of a large tree. Unfortunately the path which the King’s Horse took was led over the very place where the old man lay sleeping. The hooves of the Horse crushed his chest, and he perished on the spot.

Only when the soldiers following him saw the dead Brahmin and informed him, did the king come to know of the tragedy. He lost no time in observing the penances and sacrifices ordained in the shastras for absolution from this sin, but the damage was done Brahmahatthi (spirit of the dead Brahmana) clung to him all the more tightly. In despair, the King sought the help of Lord Sundaresvara of Madurai. Such was the sincerity and devotion this grief-stricken king that one day as he was circumambulating the shrine, he heard a divine voice command: “Do not despair O King! A Chola king will invade your Kingdom soon. Fight him and he will be defeated. As he flees back to his country, chase him without harming him. He will lead you to Thiruvidaimarudur where Lord Shiva himself worshipped his own image. There the sin which is clinging to you now will leave you”. The king then visited the temple at Thiruvidaimarudur as per the Divine guidance and prayed to Lord Mahalingeswarar. He entered the temple through the Eastern entrance and the Brahmahatthi and the ghost could not enter the temple and waited outside the temple for the King to return. As advised by Mahalingaswamy, the king left by the Western gopuram (Tower) and hence got rid of the Brahmatti dosham and the Brahmin’s ghost. The Brahmahatthi is waiting outside still in the South ornamental entrance (South Thorana vayil) with head disheveled and face immersed betwixt the knees. The king was relieved of his malady.