Sivasaila Naadhar - Alwarkurichi
Location: Tenkasi district- Sivasailam village Alwarkurichi
Archagar’s name: Narambu pattar
Contact number: 9486778640
Temple timings: Morning 7:00am - 12:00pm
Evening 5:00pm to 8:00pm
Moolavar name : Siva saila Nadhar
Thaayaar : Sri Paramakalyani
Other Sannidhis: Bala subramaniyar, bairavar, suriya bagavan, saneesvarar, kasivisva naadhar, dhurkai amman, mahalakshmi, saptha maathas, paalambogai
SivasailaNadhar as Sadamudithari/ the one with braided hair: Sudarsana was a Pandya king whose kingdom’s capital was Manalur, he often visited the Shivasailam temple received the blessings of the Lord.Once when he came to worship the Lord, he could not cross the Karuna river to go to the temple as the river flooded the area. He then worshiped the Lord to control the floods. Lord Shiva answered his prayers and blessed him, thereby reducing the water level. However, by the time the King reached the temple, the sanctum was closed.The priest, who was startled by the king's sudden arrival, and took the flower garland that was placed on the head of the main dancer of the temple and gave it as an offering to the King order to please him. This pleased the King, although he could not see the Lord, he could atleast get the garland that was adorned by the Lord himself. However, he noticed a strand of hair in the garland and considered this a bad omen. The King then asked the reason for this to which the priest lied out of fear that the Lord has braided head and hence Lord’s hair was seen in the flower garland. The king did not believe this and ordered, to make arrangements to see the Lord’s braided hair the next time he visited.
The priest cried and prayed to the Lord to save him. He then heard Lord Sivasailnadhar’s voice which said that he did this to test Sudarshana Pandyan and that he will protect the priest by giving him what the King asked for. He then asked the priest to make windows on the other three sides of the sanctum. After a few days the king came to the temple. Upon asking seeing the Lord’s braided hair, the priest took the King through the back entrance. With the light from the lamp shown by the priest, he saw the Lord’s braided hair and prayed to the Lord to forgive his mistake and received the Lord's grace.It is because of this event that it is a special place where Lord Shiva appeared to the devotee as Sadamudithari.
The Story of Sivasaila Nadhar: Many devotees went to the Himalayas to see Lord Shiva - Paravthi’s celestial wedding, this caused the Northern side to tilt on one side. Upon Lord Shiva’s advice, Sage Agathiya went to South of Pothigai to restore balance. Agathiya then built a hut on Papanasam hill and led an ascetic life. Lord Shiva is said to have appeared as a self manifested lingam here along with Sage Athiri. Sage Athiri had then stayed at a hut which was surrounded by three mountains known as ‘Trikuta Parvatham’. He lived with his wife Anusuya and disciple Korakar. Sage Athiri also consecrated and worshiped the lingam known as Sailalingam.
Once when Sage Athiri was returning after visiting Sage Agathiya was having a feeling of unfulfillment. The reason for this was that Lord Shiva who appeared before Sage Agathiyar and blessed him, had not appeared before Sage Athiri, hence Sage Athiri prayed about this to the Lord himself. Following the prayers, Sage Athiri heard a voice from the skies which was the voice of the Lord himself. The voice said,I am living on the banks of the river Kadana as Swayambu with the Maharishi named Sivasailesar. Bring me out and worship me.Delighted, Atiri Maharishi came to Shivasailam and worshiped Lord Shivasaileswara. Atiri’s hut is situated on Trikuta Parvatham, west of the farm from where Sivasaila Nadhar is visible to the west for Atri Maharishi's daily darshan.
Why the Goddess here is known as Paramakalyani. Sage Bringridi, once visited only Sivasailanatha and left without offering prayers or circumambulation around Ambal’s sannidhi. This angered Ambal. Hence, she usurps all of Bringridi's powers. Besides that she appeals to Lord Shiva to curse Bringridi. But Sivasailanatha remained blind to her rage. He traveled westward and sat near the hut of Atiri Maharishi and began to do severe penance.Parameswaran with the thought of making peace with Ambal, told her “Hey, Paramakalyani, don't get angry! This is one of my favorite games. He made peace with her and asked her to come with him. Ambal also made peace and blessed all at Sivasailam, Since that day, Ambal has been protecting her devotees and is worshipped as “Paramakalyani”.
Vasantha utsavam/ Spring festivity: In the town of Snehapuri, present Ambur which is located south of Alwarkurichi, there lived a brahmin in whose dreams Lord Sivasaila Nadhar appeared. The Lord told him that there is a well in the middle of the Agrahara, were there is a statue of a four-handed goddess. He further asked him to consecrate the statue in the SivasailaNadhar temple along with him. The brahmin upon Lord’s advice, did the same. Since Ambal originally belonged to Ambur, every year, during the spring season, Ambal along with Lord Shiva stay there for three days and are worshipped with special prayers. These festivities are known as Vasantha utsavam or spring festivities.
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