Ketheeswaram Temple, Mannar – Legends

Ketheeswaram Temple, Mannar – Legends

Skanda Purana:

Another legend is found in the Skanda Purana, an ancient work in Sanskrit, the antiquity of which is unknown. It consists of 2500 verses grouped into 27 Chapters and had been handed down in accordance with the traditional custom as oral discourses by the Guru to his disciples in this case by Sootha Munivar to the Naimisaranya Munivars. Three Chapters of the Skanda Purana which have been given the title Dhakshina Kailasa Manmiam deal with historical events in ancient Ceylon. The first chapter narrates about the Puranas in general and the splendour that was of ancient Ceylon; the second chapter relates about the celebrated places of religious importance in Ceylon and the story of "Thiruketheeswaram".

In this chapter is narrated the incident of how, at one time long ago, the God of Wind (Vayu) uprooted the three towers of the great mountain Maha Meru in order to keep off Adhiseshan, who fought against him, obstructing the great mountain with thousands of adorned summits resembling serpents’ heads and deposited one of these towers at Thiruketheeswaram. The Lord established himself there, at Thiruketheeswaram. According to the Manmiam, Thiruketheeswaram along with Koneswaram are two of the nine most sacred Sthalams of the Hindus. The other seven are in India.

Thiruketheeswaram:

Ketu Bhagavan performed tapas and obtained the benign vision of Lord Parameswara and Ambal Devi; hence the site became known as "Tiru-Ketu-Ishwaram".

Mayan, father of Ravana’s wife Mandothari, built this Temple:

Mythical stories related to the Indian epic Ramayana recount that Mandothari, the wife of King Ravana was from Manthai and that Mayan, the father of Mandothari and the King of Manthai built the ancient Temple of Thiruketheeswaram to worship Shiva.

Maharishi Bhrigu worshipped Lord Shiva here:

According to one Hindu legend, Maharishi Bhrigu worshipped Shiva at this shrine.

Sage Agasthya visit to this Temple:

It is said that the Sage Agasthya, in his pilgrimage to Shiva Sthalams in the South, paid homage at Thiruketheeswaram also before proceeding to Dakshina Kailasha (Koneswaram).

Maathottam:

Maha Dhuvatta, a deva thacchan worshiped Lord Shiva of this temple, hence this place was called as Mahadhuvatta Puram and later came to be called as Maathottam.

Maanthai:

Also, Maanthai originally came from Maha Sandhai (a daily or weekly or monthly or yearly held market place is called as Sandhai).

People worshipped Lord Shiva here:

The Lord was worshiped by Kethu, Maha Dhuvatta, Ramar, Agasthiyar, Raavanan.