The Story of Nellaiyappar - Of Milk, Bamboo and Divine Blessings
In the unfolding chapters of our exploration into the captivating temple of Tirunelveli, the Kantimati Sameta Nellaiyappar Temple, we've traversed the intricate corridors of history, delving into the grandeur of Kantimati's sanctuary, the welcoming facades of Nellaiyappar's towering gopurams. Now, it's time to lead you through the temple's heart - the sanctum sanctorum. Here, in the presence of the city's Lord, the Supreme Deity, Nellaiyappar, the soul encounters a profound purification. Words falter to capture the divinity of this rendezvous, an experience beyond compare.
Behold Nellaiyappar, once hailed as Venuvana Nathar, now revered as the God who bears a mark - Vettuppatta Iraivan. Yes, a distinctive cut adorns the top right of Shiva Linga (Nellaiyappar). A riveting legend unfurls, illuminating the origin of this enigmatic feature.
In a bygone era, Rama Pandian reigned over this realm. Manavai, on the eastern banks of the Tamraparani River, stood as his capital. In the realm of the king, Rama Kon, a loyal servant, tended to the palace's bovine companions. His daily chore entailed delivering milk to the palace, a journey through the bamboo haven known as Venu Vanam. Yet, a peculiar pattern began to weave its way into his routine.
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Time and again, as Rama Kon bore his milk-filled vessel, a mischievous bamboo shard lay in wait, causing him to stumble and milk to cascade from its container atop his head. This recurrent dance of mishaps frayed his patience.
Determined to remedy this situation, Rama Kon armed himself with an axe and confronted the bamboo obstacle. Here, the tale takes a startling twist - as the axe cleaved through the bamboo, blood emerged from the wound, a perplexing and astonishing sight.
Intrigued and perplexed, Rama Kon shared this bewildering incident with the king. Driven by curiosity, the king journeyed to witness this oddity firsthand. Upon observing the bleeding bamboo, he discerned the extraordinary nature of the occurrence, sensing an undercurrent of divinity.
Driven by the extraordinary revelation, the king ordered the ground around the bleeding bamboo to be excavated. The outcome was beyond imagination - a modest Linga lay nestled within the earth. Astonishingly, when the king touched the Linga, the bleeding ceased.
Interpreting this as a celestial sign, the king resolved to erect a temple to enshrine this special Linga. However, the Linga's size was diminutive, urging the king to beseech its expansion. The narrative takes an awe-inspiring turn - the Linga began to grow, responding to the king's plea.
Yet, the saga unfolds further. As the Linga continued its expansion, the king, in his unwavering devotion, added twenty-one layers of Avudai (peetha), the base. However, the Linga defied constraints, persisting in its growth. Perturbed, the king contemplated extreme sacrifice to curb its relentless ascent.
At this precipice of despair, a miracle unfurled. A divine hand emerged from the Linga, staying the king's hand and safeguarding him. With divine intervention, Lord Shiva and Goddess Uma materialized, showering blessings upon the king. They instructed him to erect a temple for the Linga, now renowned as Nellaiyappar.
Thus, the illustrious Nellaiyappar Temple was born. To this day, the Linga bears the mark of its unique genesis - a cut etched upon its upper left, a testament to the extraordinary narrative. It is believed that twenty layers of Avudai lay buried underground and we could see only the topmost layer. The king and Rama Kon, the dedicated milk bearer, earned honor for their devotion, their names forever etched as Muzhuthum Kanda Rama Pandian and Muzhuthum Kanda Rama Kon.
In the forthcoming chapters of our journey, I shall unveil the presence of Vishnu enshrined beside Nellaiyappar, alongside exploring the adjoining mandapas, allowing the rich tapestry of this timeless temple to further captivate our senses.
Happy travelling.
This article is Part 17 of the series of articles I write about Kantimati Sameta Nellaiyappar Temple.
The other parts of the series can be accessed through the below-listed links.
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