The Legends of Thiruvathavur - Part - 15 / The king Mahasena Pandiyan being gifted with good child

The sage Agasthiyar told his fellow vasistathi munis and rishies that how the king Mahasenapandian had been gifted with a good son by the lord Thirumarainathar.

Once there ruled the Mathuraiyampathi (now called Madurai) named Ukirasena pandian had a son named "Mahasenapandian", who was a fierce devotee of lord Shiva. His wife Vasumathi and he had got all the wealth and good health, except a child to call by name. So they deeply worried about their state.

One day he had gone to the ashram of the great sages who had in sincere thapus. He bestowed them and told them about his deep sorrow. On seeing his sorrow, the great sage Agasthiyar told him that lord Shiva had been fond of residing in the two isthalas (holy places) namely, "Thiruvalavai" (Madurai) and the "Thiruvathavur" and he had seen as the "suyambulingas" (origin of it's own) there. He also ordered the king Mahasenapandian to go to Thiruvathavur and should worship the lord with the mother Aaranavalli. He assured that the king would get what he had wanted.

Both the pair, the king and his wife reached Thiruvathavur only by walk. There he received the warmth welcome by the "Anthanars" (people of learning vedha and upanishads etc.). He with his wife "Vasumathi" had taken holy bath in all the theerthas as per the laws of 'Agama'. He wore the symbols of 'Saivam' (follower of lord Shiva), that applied the 'Thiruneeru" (holy ash) on all over his body and wore 'garland of ruthratchas' around his neck. Having worn all of those symbols, he with his wife entered into the temple and had worshiped the lord Thirumarainathar with the sincere devotion. He had done a lot of poojas as per the 'agama' and pleased the lord Thirumarainathar.

Being pleased with the poojas and the sincere devotion to Him, the lord Thirumarainathar spoke to him as "Asariri" (voice came from the sky) that the lord Thirumarainathar had pleased with the way of worship towards Him, and He told that the garland of "flowers of Kontrai", which had been worn on Him, here in Thiruvathavur, like that one he (the king) should see on the 'Thirumeni' of the Linga which had been in the "Alavai" temple at Madurai. The 'asariri' also heard that the lord shiva would reside with very fond in both lingas which were at Madurai and Thiruvathavur and also had resided as "Sorubam" in all over the world. The lord Thirumarainathar had granted him the gift of a good son to be born and added that the child would be featured as both a good king and fierce devotee of lord shiva.

On being heard the 'Asariri', the king delighted that he had received the oath from the lord shiva (Thirumarainathar, here) and returned to his capital Mathuraiampathi and entered into the temple of lord Somasundara. What a miracle!. There he found the same garland of 'kontrai flowers' worn on his thirumeni (linga), which he had worn on the 'Moolalinga' at Thiruvathavur. He worshiped Him with grand poojas and punaskarams (royal way of worship).

As per the'Asariri' heard in Thiruvathavur, his wife Vasumathi gave birth a male child who had been named as "Satrunjayapandian" later on and he ruled over the kingdom with having all the virtues within him.

Thus the sage Agasthiyar had told the story of the king Mahasenapandian to his fellow vasistathi munis and the rishies.