Sundareswarar Temple, Tiruvettakkudi, Karaikal – Legends

Sundareswarar Temple, Tiruvettakkudi, Karaikal – Legends

Kadalaadu Festival:

Another legend associated with this temple is that once during a conversation in Mount Kailash, Goddess Parvathi told Lord Shiva that he alone could not protect the world without her contribution. Lord Shiva felt that she was influenced by undeserved pride. Wanting to teach her a lesson, he cursed her to be born in a fishermen community on Earth. Goddess Parvathy was born in a fisherman family at Thiruvettakkudi and performed rigorous penance to win back the lord’s trust. Pleased with her penance Lord Shiva came to this place in the guise of a fisherman and married her. To commemorate this event, the nearby fishermen community celebrates the Kadalaadu festival in the Tamil month of Maasi when the procession idol of Lord Shiva is taken to their village as if he was their son-in-law.

Lord Shiva bestowed Arjuna with Pasupathasthiram:

As advised by Sage Veda Vyasa, Arjuna came to this place Punnagavanam to meditate upon Lord Shiva to obtain the Pasupathasthiram (an arrow) to fight the enemies when a war between the Kauravas and Pandavas became imminent. When Duryodhana came to know about this, he sent the demon Mookasura in the form of a boar to disturb Arjuna’s penance.  But the demon was shot down with an arrow by Arjuna. Simultaneously, Lord Shiva came there as a hunter with Goddess Parvathy as a hunter woman. Lord Vinayakar and Lord Murugan also accompanied them.

The four Vedas came as four dogs and the six Sastras came as the necklace on Lord Shiva’s neck. Lord Shiva claimed that the boar was shot by him and tried to claim it. Arjuna refused to part with the animal. A war of words took place between the two. The lord disclosed his identity to Arjuna and blessed him with the arrow. However, Goddess Parvathi raised a doubt about Arjuna’s eligibility for the boon. Lord Shiva told her that Arjuna had the Matsya Rekha - a lucky line in his palm, and he deserved the boon.

Arjuna showed his palm to Goddess Parvathy and satisfied her. Lord Shiva blessed Arjuna with the Pasupathasthiram and that he would be born again in the hunter community as Kannappa Nayanar. On Arjuna’s request, Lord Shiva stayed in this place as a Swayambumurthy to bless the devotees. This event is commemorated during the Masi Maham festival in this temple.

Tirugnanasambandar worshipped the Lord from sea:

When Saint Tirugnanasambandar came to this place by sea, he found every particle of the sand as Shiva Linga and hence did not place his steps on the sand, worshipped the Lord from sea itself. 

Vettakudi:

As Lord came to this place as a hunter-Vedan in Tamil, the place is called Vettakudi.  

Ambica Puram:

Also, it has the name Ambica Puram, as Mother was born there in a fisherman family.

Historical Names:

The historical names of this place are Punnagavanam, Devakodipuram and Ambikapuram but now it is known as Thiruvettakkudi.

People worshiped Lord Shiva here:

It is believed that Goddess Parvathy, the celestial gods (Devas), Saint Vishvamitra, Iyadigal Kadavargkone Nayanar, Arjuna and King Anavaradha Maharaj have worshiped the lord of this temple.