Famous Temples in India

Religious Significance

Lord Shiva helped a pregnant Lady - A staunch devotee of lord Siva was living here with his devout wife. She was on the family way and it was time to deliver the child. She sent word to her mother for help. But she did not turn up, hence the lady started herself to the mother’s house. She developed labour pain on the way itself and loudly called the lord for help. The lord immediately appeared before her in the form of her mother herself and helped the delivery of the child. The woman was very Thirsty, the lord just made a line on the earth with his nail and the water sprang up. The lord said that the water would be the medicine for her pain and delivery wound. The lord in the form of her mother disappeared then. The real mother also arrived just then. The girl said that she had delivered the child safely because of her timely help. The mother was very much confused. The lord, with his consort Sivakami appeared before the mother and daughter and told them that he alone nursed her in time of need. The lord also said that as the spring healed her wounds and quenched her thirst, the stream would be known as Kayakudi Aaru. Those having a dip in the river would be free of all fears of life and attain all comforts in life.

Lord taught lesson to Tax Evaders - Some traders procured pepper in Kerala and smuggled it to Madurai telling the authorities that the merchandise was just Dal. They intended to evade the tax payable on pepper. Reaching home, when they opened the bags, they were shocked to find only dal and not pepper. They went to lord Chockanathar in Madurai and apologized for their act. They were advised to pray to Vaidhyanathar. It is said that the message of the story was to teach a lesson to tax evaders.

Thirumalai Nayakar cured of his Stomach Pain - As per local legend, the Nayak king Thirumalai Nayak suffered from stomach pain and he arrived at Madavar Vilagam in an ivory palanquin and stayed there for 48 days. He was completely cured and as a mark of his gratitude, he constructed the Natarajar hall as in Madurai Meenakshi temple. He also built drum halls from the temple to Madurai as he would take his midday meal only after hearing the drum sounds indicating the mid-day pooja is completed in this temple. The stone halls could be seen even today on the Srivilliputhur Madurai highways.