| There are also
legends associating Siva and Naraka with the construction of the temple on the place where
the genital organ of Sati fell. According to Puranic legends, Kama, the Indian Cupid, was
sent by the gods to put an end to Siva’s mourning after the death of his consort,
Sati, and to awaken in him again the passion of creation. At this Siva grew furious and
Kama was burnt to ashes by the angry glance of the great god. Rati, the wife of Kama,
prayed to Siva that her husband be brought back to life. On his being pacified, Siva
brought Kama back to life shorn of all his original grace and beauty. Siva, however,
agreed to restore him to his former self if they erected a temple on the genital part of
Sati. This being done, Kama was restored to his original state. So according to this
legend the original temple was constructed by the gods themselves with the help of
Visvakarma. For the construction of the tank on the
Nilachala and the stone pathway, we have to turn to the Naraka legend. According to
Harivamsa and Kalika Purana, Naraka was born to Bhumi (Mother Earth) by Visnu and the
child was deposited on the sacrificial ground of King Janaka, its head being placed on the
skull of a dead man. Janaka brought up the child in his court along with the royal princes
till he was sixteen years old. Mother Earth impersonated herself as a nurse named
Katyayini and looked to the child’s upbringing. Naraka excelled the royal princes in
the arts of war and peace, and this frightened Janaka. He had a misapprehension that this
child would one day wrest his kingdom from his sons and usurps the throne. |
