Thiruvathavur - the birth place of the fierce devotee of lord Shiva's - Manickavasagar - part 1

The sage Agasthiyar had told his fellow vasistathi munis and the rishies about the life history of 'Manickavasagar', the prime and fierce devotee of lord Shiva. He has been one among the "Samayakuravar Nalvar", who are 'Thirugnana sambandhar, Thirunavukarasar, Sundarar and Manicka vasagar'.

On those days, the Pandyan kings had ruled over the southern Tamil Nadu, having Madurai as their capital. Again Madurai had been the favorite place of the lord Shiva and goddess Sakthi, who had played the holy play there. From there, there lies another best lord Shiva's isthala within the reach of 25 k.m in the south east direction, called as "Thiruvathavur". Both the Madurai and Thiruvathavur had been the two eyes of lord Shiva as He wanted those two places as His prime isthalas.

Once there lived in Thiruvathavur, a man called "Sambupatha Asuruthar", who had been coming in the generation of 'Amathiya Brahmanah', had married a girl named "Sivakyanaratha". He had been supposed to be thought that in the 'amsam' (born as) of lord Vayu. They were very fond of lord Thirumarainathar and prayed Him for a good child to be born.

On that time, in the place of Kailash (lord Shiva's residing place) there conducted a meeting between the lord Brahmah and other celestial beings that in the earth the religion of 'Saivam' (following lord Shiva) and Siva tharmas (principles) had become diminished.They also argued that there should be some need for alter, in order to flourish 'Saivam'.

On being heard the appeal of the gathering deities, lord Shiva told them that He had an idea of making His 'Vagana' (transport of lord Shiva), the Nandi Baghawan to be born in Thiruvathavur, as the son of the pair, called Sambupatha asuruthar and Sivakyanaratha. Again lord Shiva told Nandi that He would do all the help, there in the earth.

Once in the Kailash, there lord Shiva and goddess Parvathi had been showering their blessings on the celestial beings and the deities, there came the demon king 'Ravana'. As He had been the maestro of all arts and music, he had prayed the lord and the goddess with the garland of 'Samagana' songs.

On having pleased with the samagana songs on Him, lord Shiva asked the demon king Ravana that what he wanted from Him. At once Ravana asked the lord Shiva that he wanted a wife in the 'amsam' of goddess Parvathi devi. Then lord Shiva, having accepted the appeal of Ravana, made one of the part of the 'Amsam' of Parvathi as in the form of "Vandothari" (a kind of insect), and had given it to him.

The Sakthi devi, in the form of vandothari, had appealed to lord shiva that she couldn't bear the departure from Him. Then lord Shiva told Her that at any time, He would appear before Her, when She thought Him in the mind and prayed for Him.

At that time in the earth, the 'Tharma' (good practices) had become diminished and the 'Atharma' (bad things) had grown fastly. In order to avoid the situation, lord Shiva accompanied with four of His 'Devaganas', incarnated as a well versed teacher of vedas and upanishads at the place called "Uthrakosamangai". There he had preached all the vedas and other upanishads to His followers.

At that time, the wife of the demon Ravana, vandothai who had been the goddess Parvathi's amsam, had meditated and prayed for the dharshan of lord Shiva. On having noted that, lord Shiva had handed over the "Moolagrantha" (the compilation of veda) to one of His four disciples (Sivaganas) and told them that as per the word given to Parvathi, He had to go to Srilanka and then to Kailash. After that, He added that when He had reached Kailash, there should be a formation of 'Air bubbles' seen in the 'Agni theertha' in front of the temple premises. He again told them that on having seen that air bubbles in the 'Agni theertha', each of them should come to Kailash, by handed over the "Moolagrantha" to one another, without having put it down.

As per the words of lord Shiva, there had appeared air bubbles in the 'Agni theertha' in front of the temple premises, the four disciples began to move to Kailash as per the direction of the lord Shiva. When they moved one by one,by having handed over the 'Moolagrantha' to one another, the turn for the fourth person had come. At that time an 'Asiriri' (voice from the sky) had heard that the fourth person should be given rebirth at Thiruvatahvur as in the 'Amsam' of Nandi baghawan (come in the generation of 'Amathya brahmanah') and he should strive hard to uplift the principles of 'Saivam' in the earth. At last lord shiva told him (the fourth person) that after the completion of his work-done in the earth, he would come to Kailash as in the form of 'holy-flame' (Shiva jothi). Thus the temple history of 'Uthrakosamangai' has been telling that as per the words of lord Shiva, Manickavasagar had given birth in the 'Amathya brahmanah' generation at Thiruvathavur.

In this part, only the birth secret of Manickavasagar has been told as his story is very long to give it as one full hub. His remaining story will be given in the following parts for the easy reading of the visitors, who have visited this hub. Sorry for the inconvenience to the visitors.