Thiruvilaiyadal Puranam
[4] Some of the stories in the text are versions of the original legend which may not mention the presents of Shiva:[5][6][7][8] Indra, the king of the devas and Svarga (heaven), was engaged in spending time with apsaras (divine female celestials) in his abode, when his guru (spiritual preceptor) Brihaspati came to see him.
The devas were thus left without a king, and Nahusha, an earthly monarch, who in order to arrive at the dignity had performed a hundred yajnas, became entitled to take the place of Indra.
On this message being communicated, she went in consternation to the guru, Brihaspati, to ask his advice, who directed her to sanction the coming of Nahusha in the palanquin of Indra, according to custom borne by the seen rishis.
The rishis being displeased, put down the palanquin, and pronounced on him a curse "that he should become a serpent" (as "Sarpa" also means snake); in which shape he fell down again back to the earth.
A council was held with Brihaspati, Agastiyar, and other sages, where they concluded in their meeting that Indra, in order to the removal of his sin, should go down to the earth to visit the sacred places and bathe in the holy rivers.
Durvasa-rishi was once worshipping the said image in the Tilivanam, when he took lotus flowers, and after presenting it to the god, carried it with him to Indra's paradise, who was then riding on his white elephant, and going to encounter the giants.
In the time of Kulashekhara Pandya, who ruled in Manavur, a merchant named Tanan-shayen, in the course of his journeys on commercial business was benighted in a forest of Kadamba trees; and being unable to proceed further took up his abode at the foot of one of them.
The whole being splendidly finished, with a palace also for the king on the North-East quarter, an embarrassment arose as to how these numerous buildings could all be purified preparatory to residence at once, so as to ensure an entrance on an auspicious day; the difficulty the god Shiva was pleased to remove by causing Ganga, abiding in the hair on his head to pour forth copious streams on the whole place: and the god was pleased to give it the name of Mathura (or sweetness), and he then disappeared.
When the above woman, Tadatakai (or Invincible) was ruling, her foster-mother represented to her the property of marriage, to which she replied, that she would assemble an army and go to fight with neighbouring kingdoms, in order to discover among them her destined husband.
Accordingly, much to the astonishment of the people, the seven seas (of ghee, honey, milk, &c.) came rushing into one tank, still retaining their respective colours, and appearing distinct and unmingled.
Shiva, whose height and depth Brahma and Vishnu could not discover, reflected that he had caused his wife (Parvati) to become incarnated in the person of Thadatha-kai, and had now himself reigned a long time as Sundareshvarar, considered it was not right to leave the Pandyan race without offspring.
And by a simple volition he produced in due time the birth of his son Subramanyan, in the form of a child bearing the resemblance of Shiva, which event occurred on Monday in the Tiruvatirai nakshatra, when the planet Jupiter was in the most fortunate station of a good house, (astrological term).
When the son came to years of discretion, the father, hearing the fame of his great acquirements and excellent temper, told his ministers it was time to have him installed, or anointed as king, to which counsel they agreed with joy.
He gladly agreed and after coming to Madurai, the ceremony was performed; the Sora and Sera kings, gods, demi-gods, and innumerable others were in attendance, with all usual accompaniments and great presents, extensive dower, and largesses were bestowed.
Ukrama Pandyan made a great sacrifice of ninety-six ashvamedha yajnas (rituals), at which Indra became jealous (since his rule was endangered), went to the king of the sea, Varuna, and asked him to destroy the country.
Accordingly, the sea suddenly came with great noise in the middle of the night to the gates of Madurai, when the king, Ukrama Pandyan, was awakened by Shiva in the guise of a religious ascetic, informed him of the circumstance and attendant dangers.
The king, being astonished and without presence of mind, was urged by the vision to lose no time, but employ the vel, as he had been directed and accordingly went and cast the spear (or javelin) at the sea, which immediately lost its force, and retired, as Varunan recognised the weapon of his superior.
On which deficiency, these three kings went and consulted the sage Agastya, residing on the great mountain called Pothiya, who told them of the evil influence of the planets, and advised them to go and worship Sundaresravarar on Monday.
Accordingly, the three kings came to Madurai, and performed the prescribed fastings and ceremonies on Monday in the temple, when, by the favour of Shiva, they were carried to Swarga logam (the paradise of Indra).
Indra, displeased with a semblance of favour, put round his neck a very heavy necklace collar, such as five men could not lift, thinking its weight would crush his uncivil guest.
Next crossing Kimpurada province as also Arri-varadum and the Nisithi mountains, and arriving at Ilavu-vritha country, surrounded by the river Jemba, he obtained a view of Maha-meru, which is the support of the earth, having one thousand and eight peaks, which is also the pillar of the gods, and which besides was once a bow in the hands of Sihva.
Accordingly, after coming thither and bathing in the golden-lotus tank, they were met by Shiva, who told them that to worship the self-existing lingam (or stone image), which was the sum and substance of the Vedas.
The Chamanals, being moved with envy, made a great sacrifice, out of the fire which an asura, in the form of a striated serpent was sent to devour and destroy the inhabitants of Madurai.
However, at length one arrow, shaped in the form of a crescent, penetrated the serpent, which vomited a great deal of poison, by the pestilential effects of which many people of the town died.
On this evil occurring, the Pandyan besought the god Shiva to sprinkle a few drops of ambrosial water from his hair on the place, which request being granted, the pestilence disappeared, and the king reigned prosperously over his people.
This order was rapidly obeyed by the army of Shiva's followers that the king greatly wondered, and discovering that it was a sacred amusement of the god, he rendered homage to his general, and lived without anxiety.
But while he was teaching them they did no pay proper attention, in consequence of which the god, becoming angry, denounced "That they should turned into large stones under banyan trees (ficus religiosa) near Mandura, for a thousand years."
The people of both armies were fainting for thirst, when in the midst of the Pandyan's troops a water-booth became visible, and Shiva within, in the shape of a Brahmin, caused Ganga in his crown of hair to pour forth her streams.
The son of the latter was Suntaresvara-Patha Sekara Pandyan, who while reigning manifested great regard for the Shaivas, established an army, built pagoda-towers with choultries and collected jewels for Shiva.
After suffering hunger for some days, the man said, “We shall never have sufficient for our own livelihood and preservation, unless we feed the servants of the god.” At his suggestion both himself and wife went to the temple, where, with affection, they performed the usual ceremonies; and among other things ventured to say, "It is better that we should be released from the burden of this body than remain thus."
