The
Amman went on penance on the earth at Pungavanakshetram for 9 days in the month of Adi to
have the darsan of Hari and Hara in one form. On the full-moon day Lord Siva gave her
darsan as Sankaranayinar. In commemoration of this date the Adi Tapas (Penance of Mother
in the month of Adi) festival is performed every year near Pungavanakshetram.
Thousands of pilgrims from the neighboring
localities gather for it. There is another legend. Sankha and Padma (the two serpent kings
worshipping Siva and Vishnu respectively) raised a controversy as to the superiority of
Hara and Hari. They were shown the eternal truth of the unity of both. |
