Thirukkannapuram
- As per Hindu legend, Rangabhatta an ardent devotee and priest of the temple offered a garland to the presiding deity daily offered by a courtesan. The courtesan used to wear the garland before offering to the priest. One day, the ruling king found a hair in the garland asked the priest about it. The priest said that the hair was that of the deity himself. The king thought that priest was lying and wanted to punish him. While he checked the deity, Vishnu himself appeared with a Sowri (wig). Since Vishnu appeared with Sowri, he is called Sowrirajan in the temple.
- Muna Yodhran Pongal is a traditional food offered to the deity every night during the last Pooja. There are two legends associated with it. According to one of them, a devotee by name Munayodharan offered the dish made of rice, lentil and ghee to Vishnu everyday in the temple. During one night, he could not offer and he felt for it. Vishnu was pleased by his devotion and appeared to him in his house during the night. Bells were ringing, lights were glowing and a path was defined from his house to the temple where smell of his offering was appearing all the way.
- According to another legend, Muniyodharan Pillai, a Chola feudatory was bestowed with the responsibility of collecting taxes in the region. He was a great devotee of Vishnu and stayed in Tirukannapuram. During the torrential flood, he spent all the amount collected for the welfare of the people. The king was displeased and he arrested Muniyodharan. Viraghadibhogam was a maiden that held Muniyodharan in high esteem and she pleaded with god Vishnu. Vishnu appeared in the dreams of the king and ordered him to release Muniyodharan. It is believed Viraghadibhogam offered Pongal to Vishnu and hence it came to be known as Muniyodharan Pongal.
No comments:
Post a Comment