During His incarnation as Narasimha, spark spots (Agnikolam) appeared on earth. When Mother placed her steps on earth, the heat subsided and lands became cool. Rains too helped. Seeing Himself the unbearable heat that occupied the earth and suffering of beings, Lord Narasimha took the form Lord Varadaraja to protect lives from the heat. He came to this place.
When Lord left, Sri Mahalakshmi came to Karupathur near Tiruchi which was a forest then. She performed penance on Lord Shiva to get Her Lord. With the grace of Lord Shiva, Sri Mahalakshmi came to Tirumangaicheri and had the fortune of seeing Her Lord as both Narasimha and Varadaraja.
Neikuppai: The name appears to be very different. However, the story goes that when Mother Ambika came here as a cow, She poured the milk in a well, also called Koopam in Tamil. The milk changed into ghee (Nei). The well then became to be known as Neikoopam (Ghee well). The name slowly changed as Neikoopam and is called Neikuppai now.
Also Sun God worships the Lord Sundareswara by placing his rays on the Shivalinga on 19, 20 and21 of Aavani (August-September) repenting for some wrongs committed by him. The history of the temple and those of Tirumangaicheri Varadaraja Perumal are boons for the devotees.
This is also a sacred land with an ant-hill offering all relief to those afflicted with Naga doshas – adverse aspects of snake planets.
It also may be recalled that a Pandya King embraced Jainism. His queen Mangayarkarasi took all the pains to bring him back to Saivism. She built the Tirumangaicheri temple, her place of birth. Following her Chola tradition, she named the Mother Soundarya Nayaki as Meenakshi belonged to Madurai. Lord is Sundareswarar. This is a very sacred place. |