Ancient Legends of Miraculous Episodes and Divine playfulness

Ancient Legends of Miraculous Episodes and Divine Playfulness (Sree Meenakshi Temple)

Introduction:

Import: The purport of the ancient legendary tale of the miraculous episodes of the divine play(Thiru-vilayadal-puranam)is to show that Madurai,its kings,its people who worshipped Lord Somasundarar are divinely protected .Madurai was blessed with the sancity of place,holywater resources and Murthi-worthiness(Murthi-sthalam-theertham).As the favourite seat of the Lord,it is the scene of 64 miraculous episodes.

Author:

Sage Paranjothi is the author of these episodes.He composed them 350 years ago.He was the son of Meenakshi Sundara Desikar of Chola kingdom at Thirumaraikaadu,distinguished in both Sanskrit and Tamil at a very early age.His verses embodied the important ideas of Saiva scriptures ,Saiva siddhanta philosophy.Sangam Literature with graceful diction and substance and composition.

A tradition says that Goddess Meenakshi appeared in his dream once and required of him to narrate the miraculous episodes of Lord Siva at Madurai.The text was presented before a board of learned poets.He had also composed Vedharanya Purana,Thiruvilayadal Potri kalivenba,Madurai Pathitru pathu Andhadhi.

Origin of Legends:

The sanskrit haalasya mahatmiyam is its original which contains all such miraculous episodes of Lord Siva.These are referred to here and there in the works like Thevaram,Thiruvasagam,Kalladam,Silappathikaram etc... This work has  been adapted to suite conventions and tradition of the Tamils.

Sage Paranjothi's Thiruvilayadal Puranam ,perumbputra Puliyur Nambi's  Thiruvala vaaiyudayar Thiruvilayadal Puranam and Kathambavana Puranam,Sundara Pandiam were all composed to narrate the miraculous episodes of Lord Shiva .Both Paranjothi's and Perumbpatra Puliyur Nambi's works were known as Thiruvilayadal Puranam.

It is believed that Lord Shiva narrated the Sankara Sangithai to Goddess Uma .Having heard it Lord Muruga gave it to Sage Agasthiya .In it was mentioned the Holy city of Madurai with triple blessings of Sanctity of place ,Sacred waters  and multi worthiness .As the favoured seat of Lord Siva it was  blessed with 64 of his miraculous playful episodes.