|
It
is one of the Saptalingeswara kshetras, glorified elaborately both
in history and legends. Its eminence is recorded in the Bhakti
literature too. In token of saint Sundaramurti Nayanar's unqiue
eulogy, his image is installed in front of the Sivalinga. The
sthalapurana embodies that this Moolavar was worshipped by the
Vedas, and when the saint-poets like, Tirunavukkarasu,
Tirugnanasambandar sang in praise of the Lord, the doors of
garbhagriha opened of their own accord and facilitated them to get
the darsan of the Lord to them. It is fairly a big temple with many
niches and minishrines for the most adorable gods, like Durga and
Vinayaka etc.
An
interesting episode took place here in the dim past. It is said that
a rat was swallowing everyday the ghee of the big Kuthuvilakku -
brass lamp placed in the garbha griha. One day, the burning wick
fell on its nose, and so it shuddered violently. When the frightened
rat prayed to the Lord fervently, there emerged from that dying wick
extraordinary brilliance and illumined the whole Karuvarai with the
appearance of Siva, who said that its prayer was so devout and He
was pleased to make it a great emperor who would rule the three
worlds in its next life. As blessed; the rat was born as Mavali
emperor, who in fact became the emperor of the three worlds. Such is
the glory of this Lord and hence a steady influx of devotees
throughout the year since then.
|
