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Temple History - An Overview

Demon Chalandaran took of the disc of Vishnu. Lord Vishnu prayed Lord Shiva to get it back from him. Lord Shiva conveyed Lord Vishnu that he was among Veezhi plants in Earth and he had to worship him there to get back the disc. Based on suggestion Vishnu came to this place, created a pond, worshipped Shiva with theertham and lotus flowers. One day its was short by one against 1000 count, which Vishnu made up by taking off his own eye to worship Shiva. still we have a practice of offering eye symbols carved in silver, gold or copper came into being. Lord Shiva pleased with the puja of Vishnu gave him back His disc. The eye offered by Vishnu is still at the feet of Lord Shiva.

KATHYAYANI MARRIAGE:Pleased with the severe penance of Muni Kathyayana and his wife for a child, Mother Parvathi Herself was born to them.  When she grew into a marriageable age, the sage prayed to Shiva that He should marry her.  Responding to his prayer, Lord Shiva took the hands of Parvathi on the Magam Star day in the month of Chithirai (April-May).  The sage also requested the Lord to give darshan to all, all days in the same Wedding Form.  The Lord appears in the sanctum Sanctorum in the Wedding Form.

Rishi had a doubt whether it was lord . lord shiva knowing this appeared before the rishi with the eye of vishnu in one hand as a lotus flower, a vilampazham ( a local fruit that only grows in india and other tropical places ) in full bridegroom ( maappillai in tamir ) attire. this pose became known as the maappillai swami and is the primary urchavar in the temple.

Name Thiruveezhimizhalai: Once this place was dense with many trees, sandal, shenbagam, Jack and Vila all collectively called Veezhi.  A hunter named Mizhalai Kurumbar was a devotee of Lord Shiva and offered him the Vila fruit for nivedhana.  Pleased with his devotion, the Lord taught him the 8 great lessons called Ashtamasiddhi.  The Vizha fruit is still found at the feet of the Lord in the temple.  Hence, the place came to be known as Thiru+Veezhi+Mizhalai. A combination of the names of the fruit and the devotee hunter.

Padikasu: Thiruveezhimizhalai once passed through a dry period with severe famine.  Gnanasambandar and Tirunavukkarasar prayed to the Lord with their hymns to tide over the famine condition and restore fertility in the land.  The Lord gave each a gold coin each day as promised by Him in their dreams to buy food and feed the suffering people. He gave the coin to Gnanasambandar on the eastern side and the other at the western side to Tirunavukkarasar.  This is called Padikkasu (allowance money as we call it now) and this peetam also is still in the temple.

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