Thiruvanchikulam Mahadevar Temple – Literary Mention
Sundarar, a 7th-century Tamil Saivite poet, venerated
Mahadeva in ten verses in Thevaram, compiled as the Seventh
Thirumurai. As the temple is revered in Thevaram,
it is classified as Paadal Petra Sthalam, one of the 276 temples that find mention in the Saiva
canon. This is the 266th Devaram Paadal
Petra Shiva Sthalam and only one Sthalam in Malai Nadu. The temple is believed to be the place where
Sundarar and king Cheraman spent their last days and believed to have ascended
to Kailasa in a white elephant.
It is
also noteworthy that the story of Epic Peria Puranam by inspired poet Sekkizhar
begins at Kailash and ends at Kailash with Sundarar as the main character of
the epic. The epic is a poetic biography of Saivite Saints who lived in
Tamilnadu spreading Shiva philosophy at a time when Saivism faced the onslaught
of other religions. Reaching Tiru Anjaikalam, his last day on Earth and
readying to reach Lord Shiva, Sundarar’s excitement was high. In his last song,
he recalls the handsome appearance of Lord Shiva wearing garlands, the Ganga on
his head, the tiger skin dress, serpents on his shoulders as ornaments and the
scenic beauty of Tiru Anjaikalam where Lord Graces in the name of Mahadeva.
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