Sage Mrigundu and his wife Maruthuvalli were childless and visited Kashi to worship Kashi Vishwanatah for a progeny. The lord blessed them with a child but he was destined to die soon. He was to live only up to 16years.Thus when Markendaya was 16years old he went to Thirukadayur to propitiate Amirthkadeeswarar. At the appropriate moment Yama Lord of death appeared before him and threatened him to accompany him to Yama’s world. Markendaya how ever did not listen and continued to worship Shiva fervently. He sought refuge with the lord. Meanwhile Yama swung the Pasa Kayir on the lad. At this juncture Amirthkadeeswarar appeared and saves Markendayar and blessed him with immortality. The lord punished him severely.
Yama visits Vedaseereni
Yama wanted to absolve of the sin he committed. To try to take away the life of Siva devotee is a sin. Markendaya is a Sivan adiyar and to put him to death is a sin. Committed by yama. As advised by sage Narada he reached Vedaseereni.
Yama is absolved of his sin
Vedaseereni is the place where the Vedas stayed in human form. Yama arrived at this place and placed his dhandam on the ground and propitiated it as Lord Shiva. He visited Thiruvanmiyur in the evenings and had a holy bath in the tank. He worshipped Marundeeshwarar who blessed him. He was absolved of his sin. Yama requested Shiva that the Shiva lingam (dhandam) which he worships to be called Dhandapani. He also requested that the lord to bless the devotees who worship Dandapani with good wealth health and progeny. Thus yama stayed in Vedaseereni and worshipped the lord for a long time. He built an attractive temple for the lord with gopuram and vimanam. Thus the lord worshipped by Yama is called Dandapani.
Temple
There is a five tier rajagopuram which is mammoth. It is a sprawling temple with a holy tank outside the temple. There is an icon of Vaitheeswarar under a vilva tree on the outer prakaram. There are icons of Meenakshi and Sundareeswrar, consecrated inside the temple premises.Navagrahas are also consecrated inside the temple. Nandhi faces the presiding deity. There are icons of Vinayaka, Valli, Devasena, Subramanya, Sivakamasundari enshrined in the temple. Saraswathi and Lakshmi are housed in a sanctum sanctorum. Bhairavar, Mahavishnu, Surya, Dakshinamurthi, Brahma, Durga, form a part of the celestial congregation.
( To be contd. )
Dhandeeswarar Temple in Velachery - Part 1