Devanathaswamy Temple, Thiruvanthipuram – Legends

Devanathaswamy Temple, Thiruvanthipuram – Legends

Tiruvahindipuram:

Due to their pride and arrogance, the Devas of the celestial world were defeated by Asuras-demons and driven away from their place. All of them surrendered at the feet of Lord Vishnu at this place-Oushadhachalam. Lord promised them help. The Asuras sought the help of Lord Shiva to win again. Lord Shiva too promised his help. Seeing that the Devas beaten and defeated, Lord Vishnu applied his discus-Chakkrayudha that chased and killed the demons. All surrendered at Lord’s feet.

Lord Vishnu appeared before them as Brahmma, Vishnu and Shiva and pleased all. As he was the captain of the Devas, he was named Devanatha. Knowing that Lord Sri Narayana had decided to stay here forever, Adhishesha built a town, which we now call Tiru Ahindi (Adisesha) Puram (place) – Tiruvahindipuram. Tiruvahindipuram became Thiruvanthipuram with the passage of time.

Puranic References:

The temple finds mention in Brahmanda Purana, Naradiya Purana and Skanda Purana.

Lord Vishnu darshan to group of Sages:

According to the accounts, a group of sages wanted to have a sacred view of Vishnu and went all the way to Thiruparkadal, the Ocean of Milk. They could not view Vishnu there and went all the way to Vaikunta, the heavenly abode of Vishnu. The guardians there stated that they could meet Vishnu only in a place close to the seashore north of Kumbakonam, south of Tirupathi and west of Kanchipuram. When the sages reached there, they found sage Markandeya and his daughter Bhudevi were doing penance. They could view Mahavishnu in resplendent form with his weapons Sudarshana (wheel), Panchajanya (conch) and Kaumodaki gracing his arms.

Sesha Theertham:

As per another legend, Vishnu handed the job of obtaining the pure water of lake Vraja Theertha located in the nether world to Garuda, the eagle vahana. Garuda reached the nether world and secretively obtained the water from the lake, without the knowledge of the sage, who established the lake. The sage came to know about it and cursed the water to turn impure. Garuda then pleaded with the sage indicating the orders of Vishnu.

The elongated transaction delayed the proceedings and Vishnu turned to his other prime devotee Adhishesha, the serpent who constructed a well called Sesha Theertham, by whipping the earth with his tail. The water from this well is used daily for the preparation of the temple prasad. This is a prayer well where devotees put jaggery, salt and pepper seeking remedy for the illness they suffer. Those facing serpent effects pray here for remedy.

Garuda Theertham:

Garuda who came back late (after Adhiseshan had already helped quench the Lord’s thirst) requested the Lord to accept his water too as sacred. The river brought by Garuda flows nearby in his name as Garuda Nadhi-river offering the same benefit to the devotee as in the Holy Ganga. The water of the river is red as blood during the monsoon due to a curse of a Rishi, it is said. The Lord accepted the water on the Chariot Procession day.

On this day, water from this river (Kedilam) is brought and offered to the Lord. This is the only Divya Desam where both vehicles of Vishnu brought water for the Lord. Aadhishesahan worshipped Sriman Narayanan in this sthalam. Adhiseshan brought both the Viraja Theertham (Garuda Nadhi) and Ganga Nadhi together and dedicated those two rivers towards the divine feet of Sriman Narayanan.

Garuda & Adisesha:

This is the only Divya Desam where both the mounts satisfied Lord Thirst. Both, the Snake and the Garudan are said to opposite (enemies) to one another. But, in this sthalam, they both worshipped the Perumal along with each another as brothers.

Brammachalam:

Lord Brahmma had performed penance here, hence the name Brammachalam for the place.

Oushadhachalam:

The hill place also bears the name Oushadhachalam as a piece of the Sanjeevi mount fell here when Hanuman was carrying the same to Lanka. The hill has many herbals with high medical value.

People performed penance here:

Lords Brahmma, Shiva and Indira, Mother Bhoomadevi, Sages Brugu and Markandeya had performed penance here.

Equivalent to Vaanama Malai:

Vaanama Malai, which is one of the Divyadesam in Pandiya Naadu has all the characters of curing all and any kind of diseases. With the oil, which is found in the well, all the diseases are cured and the Perumal there is Deva Nayaga Perumal. Similarly, Deva Nayaga Perumal is giving his Seva in this sthalam in Nindra Seva and curing all sorts of unrecoverable diseases.

Lakshmi curse on Lord Vishnu:

Once upon the time, Lord Vishnu teased up Sri Lakshmi on seeing her face. Getting anger on him, she gave a curse that his face will be get cut during some time. As the same way, one demon named Hayagriva made tapas on Parasakthi for almost 1000 years and asked for a boon that if he needs to be killed, an equivalent person of his category and strength should kill him. As his wish, he got the boon and on getting it, he started to kill and destroy the happiness of Devas, the people and sages in the world.

His head was same as that of the horse. So, Lord Brahma took Lord Vishnu's head and replaced it with the horse's head. Finally, Lord Vishnu killed Hayagriva demon and he along with Aadhi Lakshmi sat on top of this mountain and giving all the health and wealth to the people of this world.

Shaiva Vaishnava Unity:

There was a little bit of religious intolerance in the minds of the people during Chozha Emperor's time. Once, a Chozha King came to this sthalam and thought of demolishing this Hayagriva temple. At that time, to eliminate the racism out from his heart, Sriman Narayanan changed himself to Lord Shiva with 3 eyes and Jada mudi (long hair in the head) and gave Seva to Chozha Emperor and explained him all the Gods are same and there should not be any difference between the God.

The Perumal in this sthalam is Deva Nayaga Perumal with the Lotus in the inner palm of his right hand, and in the fore head, he has the Eye along with Jada mudi and Changu and Chakram on his hands. This is one of the Seva which tells us all the Gods are the same because, Lotus which is found with Lord Brahma, and Nettrikkan (Eye on the fore head) and Jada Mudi which is found with Lord Shiva and Sangu and Chakram which is found with Shri Vishnu. This shows there should be no fights between Vaishnavism and Saivam and both are similar one. To explain this, he gives Seva as like this in this sthalam.

Prarthana Sthalam:

This is said to be a Prarthana sthalam for ‘Good Education’ and to cure ‘speechless children’. 

Brother of Thirupathi Srinivasa:

Legend has it that the Lord here is considered as the brother of Tirupathi Srinivasa. 

Arjuna penance on Lord Vishnu here:

Arjuna undertook penance at this temple and hence this Divya Desam dates to the Mahabharata.

Indira’s hiding at Tiruvahindipuram:

Having gained dominating powers thanks to his sincere penance, a demon attacked Indira Logam and drove out Indira, who is said to have gone into hiding here. The hassled Devas went up to Vishnu who asked them to perform a Yagam at Vahindapuram. On the completion of the Yaagam, Indira is believed to have come out of his hiding. Vishnu appeared before him and presented the Vajra Ayudham with the help of which Indira defeated the demon and re conquered the Indira Logam.

Vedanta Desikar’s connection with Tiruvahindipuram:

The great Sri Vaishnava Guru Vedanta Desika reached here as a human incarnation of the Lord's Ghanta (bell) who would attain fulfilment in his penance carried out on the Hill. When he was about 20 years old and had mastered all Sastras, he came to this place, worshipped Sri Narasimha at the hill, prayed Garuda who appeared before him and initiated him in Hayagriva Upasana which helped Desika attain religious knowledge to its greatest depths.

Vedanta Desika lived here for 40 years and scripted the Sampradayam for Vadakalai sect of Vaishnavites. Hence this temple is said to be the ‘Home to Vadakalai Sect’. Special significance is attached to the Desigan Sannidhi at this temple. Desigan who was devoted to this Lord, wrote great pieces of literature on Lord Deiva Nayagan and Lord Hayagriva. Desikar got a sculpture (Thirumeni) of his done at this temple.

A sculptor questioned Desikar if he could give life to this art form. When the sculptor touched the Thirumeni to get a feel of it, there was a scratch seen on it and to his shock, he found blood flowing down. Realizing his mistake, the sculptor is said to have apologized to Sri Desikan. Vedaantha Desikar lived for almost 40 years in this sthalam and we can see the Thirumaaligai he lived. Separate Utsavams in September - October for Vedaantha Desikar is done in a very grand manner.

Hayagriva Avatharam:

Hayagriva Avatharam of Vishnu is not one among the Dasaavathaarams but is ancient than that. Two asuras Madhu and Kaitapha stole the Vedas and hid them. Lord Vishnu as Hayagriva retrieved them and preached them to Goddess Saraswathy and Lord Brahma making them the custodians hence Hayagriva is looked upon as the fountain head of the Vedas. Being the place where Lord Vishnu, in Hayagriva form, brought back the educative scriptures, he is referred to as the God of Learning. He is believed to fulfill one’s prayers relating to education and studies at this temple.