Famous Temples in India

Religious Significance

Madurai was ruled by Arimardana Pandya. During his period, the city was hit by a massive ood. The King ordered the citizens to block the river water by lling the banks with the sand. Every house in the city was supposed to provide at least one person on this task There lived an old lady, who was a great devotee of Lord Shiva. She had no one else in her family and she was very old and weak to carry sand and build the barrier. She was worried about the King's order. Lord Shiva disguised himself as a boy and came to help his devotee. He agreed to carry sand on behalf of this old lady and in return she had to give him Pittu everyday. (Pittu or Puttu is a kind of rice pudding). The boy happily ate Puttu, but never worked. He would go the site and have a good sleep under a tree. One day, the King came to the site to audit the work. On seeing this lazy boy, the furious king beat him on his back with a stick. The boy disappeared and everyone on the earth felt the pain on their back. The King realized his mistake and sought forgiveness to Lord Shiva. Shiva appeared to the King and blessed him. The poor old lady was given salvation.