TIRUVANNAMALAI

ANTIQUITY

It has numerous legends and they take us back to the Krita Yuga, when gods descended to this Punyabhumi again and again, either for granting boons to devotees, or establishing dharma. Once, Brahma and Vishnu had a row over their relative superiority -Brahma claiming the first place of honour for his august job of creating worlds, without which nothing can be done, nor any scope for the existence of anyone, so he was the absolute God, but Vishnu contradicting said that his creation would come to abrupt end, if his protective hand were to be withdrawn, and life of every being including that of the Creator would cease As the argument was getting heated, there appeared before them a huge column of blazing fire, without top or bottom.

They inferred that it was the manifestation of Lord Siva. And rightly too. They then agreed before him that whoever returned first after seeing the head or bottom of that blazing column would be adjudged as greater. Lord Maheswar sealed it with approval. Brahma then assumed the form of swan and went upwards to find out the head, and Vishnu in the form of boar started digging the earth to reach the bottom. Unable to reach the bottom, tried however much, Vishnu returning, confessed his limited might.

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