39. VAIPPUR

JAMBHUNADHAR TEMPLE

Distance: 12kms from Thiruvarur

Shiva: Jambhunadhar

Amman: Akilandeswari

History:

Once upon time there lived a person named Kaaman. He had 7 daughters. He told his nephew that he would get his first daughter married to him. He failed to do so. He married her to a rich man. Similarly he got his other 5 daughters married to rich people. His 7th daughter feared that her father's words would become false. His father had promised in front of this temple. So, she married her cousin (the man to whom her father promised) in the Vaippur Shiva temple and left the place as she was afraid of her father. She reached the place called Thirumarugal and stayed in a mut. That night a snake bit the man and he died. The lady cried to Shiva of the Thirumarugal temple. Thirugnanasammandhar was there at that time. He heard he voice and learnt about the matter from the people around. The lady was a staunch devotee of lord Shiva. She had a strong belief that she would not lose her husband near the temple. Sammandhar sang hymns and pleaded the Lord to save him. The man came alive. Sammandhar got them married in Thirumarugal with all the rituals done. He sent them back to Vaippur. They came to Vaippur and worshipped the Shiva here.

A merchant of Vaippur was on his way to Thiruvanaikka near Trichy but he was unable to fulfil his wish as some hinderances approach him every time. He was a staunch devotee of Shiva and he came to the temple in Vaippur and told Shiva that there was no use in living without having the Dharshan of Jambulingeswarar in Thiruvanaikka. He did not have food or water. He slept in the temple corridor due to hunger. An old man woke him and told him to go home and have food. He complained about his sorrow and said that he would not leave the temple until God permits him or guides him to Thiruvanaikka. Suddenly a miracle happened. The old man asked him to come to the Shiva sannidhi and suddenly disappeared. He felt as though he was in Thiruvanaikka and saw the Jambulingaeswarar and Ambaal there. It was as though he worshipped all the deities of the temple of Thiruvanaikka and enjoyed his presence there. He suddenly woke up and found it was a dream. Some inner voice told him that this Shiva was the same as the Shiva of Thiruvanaikka. From then the Shiva of Vaippur was called Jambhunadhar (Jambulingaeswarar) and Ambaal Akilandeswari.