#Thread about a Shiva temple
where #ShivaRatri festival is said to have originated&then followed in other temples.
One of the Sthala Puranam of
Thiruvaikavur Vilvanavanathar
Kshetram is closely related to #Mahashivarathri day.
Here,Nandi's are facing away from Shiva Sannadhi.
Vilvaneshwarar Temple, Thiruvaikavur, Near Kumbakonam, TN - There is no Raja gopuram & no Dwajasthambam for this temple.There are no Navagrahas in this temple.
Here,we can have darshan of Dakshina moorthy is with a stick.
There is an interesting legend regarding the same
#storytimethread - Rishi Dhavanithi was performing tapas in this Kshetram.A hunter was chasing a deer.The deer came running &surrendered to Rishi Dhavanithi.The hunter threatened to kill the Rishi if he did not release the deer to him.
At that time,Bhagwan Shiva came in the form of a tiger in order to save the Rishi& deer.On seeing the tiger,hunter climbed on a tree.Tiger sat under tree &did not
https://t.co/qyhqxhVSyV keep himself awake, hunter started plucking leaves one by one &was throwing it on the tiger.
Incidentally,that night was Maha Shivratri & the leaf was Vilvam. Pleased with the hunter’s act, Bhagwan Shiva blessed him with his darshan & gave him mukti.
Meanwhile,Yama raj had also reached this place,as hunter’s life was to end in the morning.