Long ago all these three temples were in differant places. For the convenience of the devotees
the Nayak dynasty relocated all these three in one place as at present.
Legend:
Long ago in krethayuga there were three demons called Dhandagasura, Thajagasura
and Gajamugasura. The three of them did penance to lord Siva for many years. Siva appeared before
them and asked them for the propose for their penance. The three demons told Lord siva that
they should live for ever.
Siva told them that he could not give that boon but he asured them that
they would not killed by Lord Siva.
They were happy and went to all the lokas and expelled the gods and occupied all the logas.
Draught set upon the earth and people suffered. Driven from the heaven Gods had taken shelter
in the forests and due to draught they too suffered.
But one part of the forest was fresh and green as ever.
On hearing this the three demons
rushed to that part of the forest and occupied that place.
There they found a man who was doing penance to Vishnu.
The demons got very angry and they beat the sage and did not allow him to even say
"Om Namo Narayana"
Narayana showed his sympathy on the sage and sent his mount Garuda. It came to the place
and killed all the soldiers of the demons. Angrily Sri Maha vishnu himself appeared before them.
Demon Thanja got
very angry on Vishnu and he went to kill him. But Vishnu took his disc and killed him.
Demon Thanjan deeply regretted his mistakes and asked Maha-Vishnu for a boon
that the place where he was killed should be named after himself.
Sri Vishnu granted this wish that place came to be known as Thanjakanoor.
Later it was changed as Thanjavoor.(the present name)
The second demon was very angry with Sri vishnu and he fought with him. Sri vishnu was patiently
giving a chance to the demon to repent for his mistake . But he was more and more aggressively
fighting with the Lord. At last he incarnated once again as Narasimha and killed him.
Good sense prevailed with the demon at the last moment and he requested Lord that
the place where he was killed should be named after himself.. Hence that place
is called Thanjai YaliNagar.This place is in Kalimedu in Thanjavoor.
The last and third one also fought with Vishnu and hid himself under the earth.
Lord Sri Vishnu once again
incarnated as Varaha and went under the earth and killed him. Remorseful
at the last moment he requested Lord that the place he was killed him should be
called after his name. The Lord
accepted this and hence this place is called Dhandakaranyam.
Sri Mahavishnu came up to the earth like Varahamurthi.
It is in Sri Mushnam close to Thanjai Yali Nagar inThanjavoor. The Diety is called
Poova Varaha Moorthy.
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