Pralayakaleshwarar Temple, Pennadam…. Sri Pralayakaleswarar is a form of LORD SHIVA, who is also known as, Sri Sudarkozhundeeswarar, Sri Kadanthai Nathar, Sri Kaivazhangeesar in the most popular Sri Pralayakaleshwarar Temple, Pennadam. Here Ma Shakti Devi is worshipped as Sri Aamodanambal, Sri Kadanthai Nayaki, and as Sri Azhagiya Kadhali.
The sacred temple pond present in this temple are Parvathi Theertham, Kapila Theertham, Kayilai Theertham, Indira theertham, Mukkulam, Vellaru river.
The temple tree present in this temple is the sacred Shanbaga tree.
Saint Thirugnanasambanthar and Saint Thirunavukarasar (Appar) visited this temple and sung songs in praise of Lord Shiva.
This is one of the Thevara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalams and also one of the most beautiful temples of Lord Shiva.
Lord Shiva present in this temple is a self-manifested one. This is the birth place of Saint Kalikkamba Nayanar who is one of the 63 Nayanmars and Saint Meikandar, who is also popularly called as Sri Medikanda Gnana Devar, which means, the most enlightened one.
Saint Marai Ganasambanthar, the third “Santhana Kuravars” is also believed to have been lived in this holy place.
It is believed that this temple was built by the early Cholas. The lord of this temple is praised as Sri Sudarkozhunthu Nathar, Sri Prabanjanathar, Sri Paramadayaleeswarar and as Sri Kaivazhangeesar.
According to the legend, there was once a flood which was consuming the entire world. This was the only place left that wasn’t submerged in water. Devas (celestial gods) rushed to this place and prayed to Lord Shiva to protect all beings by preventing the water from entering this place. Lord Shiva directed Nandhi to prevent the flood water entering here. Nandhi, till then facing Lord Shiva, turned to the opposite direction, swallowed the incoming flood water and saved this place from getting submerged. Hence, the lord of this place is praised as “Pralaya Kaleswarar” – “the lord who protected the world”. Nandhi, is still facing the opposite direction, that is, facing the entrance of the temple.
Shrines and idols of Lords Vinai Theertha Vinayakar, Murugan with his consorts, Natarajar and Sivakami, Kasi Viswanathar, Dakshinamurthy, Nalvar, Navagraham, Goddess Mahalakshmi and Saptha Madakkal, Saint Kalikkamba Nayanar, Saint Meikkanda Devar and Lord Soundaraeswarar can also be seen in the temple.
The world is like a drama stage, god is the director, and we are all the actors! As per the instructions given by the director (GOD), we are all playing to his tunes! If god (Lord Shiva) wants us to do a particular task, then it would be done by us, whereas if god doesn’t want us to involve in a certain kind of activity, then we wouldn’t do it! Hence in order to favour the god, we must have to compulsorily visit temples.
It is also suggested to visit the temples early in the morning with empty stomach, since if we fill up our belly with full of food, we would not pay enough attention on worshipping the god. Saturdays are auspicious days for visiting Lord Vishnu Temples, and Mondays are auspicious days for visiting Lord Shiva temples. Ma Shakti Devi temples can be visited on Tuesdays and Fridays, and if we didn’t have sufficient time to visit the deities on week days, we can worship the deities in the temples on every Sunday, since Sundays are holidays for most of the working people.
“OM”
WRITTEN BY
R. HARISHANKAR