SHIVA - THE COSMIC DANCER

VASHISHTEESWARAR TEMPLE VEPPUR – MELVISHARAM -VELLORE DISTRICT – TAMILNADU. The heat emanating from the Tapas of Shakthi was unbearable. The land surrounding her became bereft of life, unable to bear the heat in spite of torrential rains. The river Vegavathi was brimming with water and started flowing into the land with force of her floods. Devi Parvathi in the form of Kamakshi was praying to Mahadev, in the form of a lingam made out of sand (Prithivi Lingam) under the mango tree known as Ekambaranathar, in the town of Kancheepuram. So steadfast and strong was her penance, to win over Mahadev to become his better half, that the moment she saw the floods, she embraced the Shiva Lingam to protect it from getting washed away. Mahadev filled with compassion appeared before Parvathi and wished to marry her. The marriage was celebrated in the town of Kancheepuram, to which lot of distinguished guests including the Deva’s and Rishi’s were invited. Since the small town was

MARGABANDHEESHWARAR TEMPLE – VIRINJIPURAM – VELLORE DISTRICT – TAMILNADU Seven tiered Rajagopuram Brahma the creator and Mahavishnu the Preserver were bragging about their own greatness, when a large fiery Lingam grew in between them. In order to prove their might over the other Brahma in the form of a swan flew skywards to touch the head of the Lingam and Vishnu in his Varaha Avatar – Boar went digging into the earth to find the feet of the Lingam. After many years, Vishnu came back and accepted that he could not see the bottom of the Lingam. While returning back Brahma saw the Ketaki flower’s falling from the heavens, he went and lied to Vishnu that he had seen the head of the Lingam and the Kethaki flower is his Proof. Bhagavan Shiva cursed Brahma (no festivities or Temple dedicated to him) to be born on earth and pray to him to attain moksha. Kethaki flower (Thayampoo in tamil) is not used in Shiva pooja. Lingaodbhavar Brahma was born as Shivasharma in th