The
elephant collected holy waters from Teerthams and conducted Abhishekam to the lingam
daily. It removed all the dry leaves and other things falling near the lingam and kept the
surroundings always tidy. The spider took its residence on
the Jamhu tree. It constructed a canopy over the lingam in order to prevent dry leaves
from dropping on it.
When the elephant saw the cobwebs, he
tore them down, because he considered them out of place. The spider became angry, crawled
into the trunk of the elephant and bit it. The elephant dashed its trunk on the ground and
died. So did the spider. Lord Siva, moved by the deep devotion of the two creatures, gave
them darsan and blessed them. The elephant got salvation. As an elephant once worshipped
the Lord, this place came to be known as Tiruvanaikka meaning "grove of the holy
elephant." The present name Tiruvanaikkaval or Tiruvanaikkovil is only a corruption
of this ancient name. |
