In my previous posting I recounted episode 24 from the Thiruvilaiyadal Puranam; i.e. — 'Why Lord Nataraja changed his dancing posture'. Over the coming months I hope to relate more of the sublime, inspirational stories from this Tamil Puranam. But to begin with below is information about the actual history of the Thiruvilaiyadal Puranam which is often referred to as 'the left eye of Lord Shiva'.
The Thiruvilaiyadal Puranam
The Thiruvilaiyadal Puranam is a collection of sixty-four Shaivite devotional epic stories by the sage Paranjothi Munivar. The stories describe the "Divine Sport" of Lord Shiva, who appeared on earth in a number of disguises in order to test and help his devotees
Paranjothi Munivar, the author of the Thiruvilaiyadal Puranam was born in a Shaiva family to a well learned Shiva devotee Meenakshi Sundara Deshikar at Tirumaraikkadu. Paranjothi who was believed to have lived in the later part of 16th century or early 17th century, showed his love for Lord Shiva from early childhood. He studied Tamil and Sanskrit and also took lessons in music and became an expert singer. His father taught him the Shivagamas, Thevaram, Tiruvasagam and Bharatam. During a pilgrimage to various Shrines of Lord Shiva, Paranjothi reached Madurai Temple. There he was instructed by the Goddess Meenakshi to write this work for the benefit of the Lord's devotees.
This Puranam is revered as one of the Mahapuranas i.e. Thiruvilaiyadal – the left eye of Lord Shiva, Periya Puranam – the right eye and Skanda Purana – the middle eye of the Lord. The Thiruvilaiyadal Puranam describes legends of the South India Pandyan Kingdom and covers a period of more than 500 years during the reign of fifty-two Pandya kings and six other kings. Many of these events are found in earlier Tamil works like Cilappatirkaram, Kalladam, Teveram, Tiruvasagam and other Puranic poetry. Thirunavukkarasar and Thirugnyanasambandhar mentioned most of the legends expounded in This Puranam in their songs.
The main narrative is divided into three parts; 18 chapters of Madurai Kandam, 20 Chapters of Koodal Kandam and 16 chapters of the Tiruvalavai Kandam. The first part starts with how Lord Indra atoned for the sin committed by him in killing an Asura (his enemy), when the latter was in deep meditation. On the advice of his guru Brahaspati, Lord Indra comes down to the holy Kadamba Forest and his men discover a Svayambhu Linga and holy lotus pond. The Madurai Kandam goes on to describe how the Lord made Kulasekhara Pandyan clear the forest and build the city of Madurai. The last incident of this part describes the rising of the seas and their being subdued by Somasundarar's son.
The second part i.e. Koodal Kandam; narrates how the city of Madurai was threatened by the seas due to anger of Lord Varuna. This part has many incidents in which Lord Shiva comes to the aid of the Pandyan kings, providing justice and saving his people against evil. One of the stories includes a narration of Lord Rama's visit to Somasundarar to worship and seek advice while on His way to Lanka to release Goddess Seeta. Koodal Kandam also contains five chapters; which describe how the Lord came as a mother pig to feed twelve piglets who had lost their mother, how the piglets received back their human forms and became famous ministers — and Lord Shiva's blessing of a blackbird and a heron who were devoted to God.
The third part i.e. Tiruvalavai Kandam commences with the description of a deluge in which the city of Madurai (not the Temple) was destroyed and had to be rebuilt. Another episode describes how Lord Shiva animates a snake ornament on His arm bracelet, to mark the ground with the boundaries of the new town to be built. This third part also contains a number of incidents of how the Lord became a teacher to Manickkavasagar and came to his help by turning foxes into horses. In addition it has a number of incidents the Lord was responsible for through his devotee Tirujnyanasambandar. The last chapter is about making a Temple well, Vanni tree and Linga appear in Madurai as witness to a wedding conducted by Sambandar at Tirupurambayam.
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| Lord Shiva selling Bangles. Epic Story No.32 |
Not only are the episodes of the Thiruvilaiyadal Puranam represented at the Meenakshi Madurai Temple by painted frescoes and sculptures on the external walls around the Lord Sundareswarar Shrine — but are also depicted at many major Temples in South India.
