Nidheeswarar Temple, Annamputhur – Legends

Nidheeswarar Temple, Annamputhur – Legends

Nidheeswarar:

Lord Gubera, the God of wealth prayed to Lord Shiva of this Temple and obtained all the eight types of Nidhis (Padma Nidhi, Maha Padma Nidhi, Makara Nidhi, Kachapa Nidhi, Mukunda Nidhi, Neela Nidhi, Nanda Nidhi and Sanka Nidhi. Hence, Lord Shiva of this Temple came to be called as Nidheeswarar. 

Annamputhur:

In Hindu mythology, Lord Bramha and Lord Vishnu entered into a heated argument among themselves to ascertain who was the greatest. Lord Shiva was asked to be the judge. Lord Siva told them that whoever was able to see his crown as well as his feet would be declared as the greatest. Then Lord Shiva transformed himself into a Jothi (a column of fire) touching the heaven and earth. Lord Vishnu took the avatar of Varaha (wild boar) and dug deep into the earth to find Siva’s feet but later accepted defeat. Bramha took the form of a swan and flew to see the crown of Shiva.

Unable to reach the crown, Bramha saw a Thazampoo flower which had decked Shiva’s crown falling down. He asked the flower on its way down, as to the distance of Shiva’s crown whereby the flower replied that he had been falling for forty thousand years. Lord Bramha, realizing that he would not be able to reach the crown, asked the flower to act as a false witness to help him. The Thazampoo flower, acting as a false witness, declared to Lord Shiva that Brahma had seen Lord Shiva’s crown.

Lord Shiva became angry at the deception and cursed that Bramha should have no temple on earth and to become a swan. Lord Shiva also cursed Thazampoo flower that it should not be used while praying to Lord Shiva. The place where Lord Siva stood as a column of fire to eliminate Brahma’s ego is Thiruvannamalai. Lord Brahma in the form of Swan came here and worshipped Lord Shiva to get rid of his curse. Hence, the village is called as Annamputhur. Lord Brahma’s idol can be seen in the nearby ancient Selli Amman Temple.

People worshipped Lord Shiva here:

Lord Brahma, Lord Gubera and Chola Emperor Rajaraja Chola I worshipped Lord Shiva here.