40. CHINNA NARIMEDU

THEN GANGAPUREESWARAR TEMPLE

Distance: 9kms from Panrutti

Shiva: Then Gangapureeswarar

Chinna Narimedu is a small village with very few families living there. The village very close or even referred as a twin village is Periya Narimedu. Even there the inhabitants are very few. The entire dwelling around the area had been destroyed during invasions. Only foxes roamed here to feed on the dead remains. Therefore the place was referred to as Narimedu.

Speciality:

The temple was constructed by Abimana Thunga Pallavarayar who was the minister of Maravarma Vikrama Pandya VI. The name of the village was then called Aranthanginallur. 

History:

After the Thiripurasamhara at Thiruvadhigai Lord Shiva became furious. Parvathi wanted to calm his anger. She chose the Kedilam river which is very close to Thiruvadhigai to cool him down and relax. The Ganga flowed from Shiva's head as the Kedilam river. This place was full of herbs which could cool the body. Parvathi worshipped the Shiva linga here with herbs and the cool water of Then Ganga. Therefore Shiva came to be known as Then Gangapureeswarar. 

For many centuries the Linga was hid inside the herbs and plants. Several centuries later a ruler who was suffering from heat related disease and boils all over the body heard about this place which had sufficient herbs which could cure his disease as no doctors of his Kingdom could cure him. The King came with his doctors and men. They found rare herbs in bushes and started to collect them. They had to clean the place to segregate the variety of herbs. When they were at this job they found the linga under the herbs. The King was overwhelmed to see the Linga and he wished to build a temple for worship. He initiated his men to dig a canal to bring the Then Ganga water to the canal. He stayed here for a certain period of time as the process of digging canal and building the temple was going on. In the mean time his ailment was treated with the herbs and he was completely cured. He felt that this ailment was fixed on him to bring him to this place and build the temple. The temple was built and the canal was dug. Many people learnt about the importance of the place and the temple and started coming here.

This places is also known as Sanyasipaettai as several Rishis and saints stayed here performed Poojas and Yagnas. Later the whole village was ruined due to Muslim invasions. Only the Ganapathi and Nandhi are left out. Still people believe that saints and Rishis come and bath in the water here and worship the Lord.