Tiruvaigaavur
Situated 15 km from Kumbakonam towards Swamimalai, the Vilvavananathar temple in Tiruvaigavur is associated with an interesting episode. Tirugnanasambandar has sung the praise of the deity, whose is Sarvajanarakshaki also known as Valaikkainayaki. Chased by a tiger, a hunter climbs a tree. It is night. Finding the beast waiting, he plucks leaves from the tree and drops them to keep himself awake. It is dawn and the hunter finds that the tree is vilvam and the leaves have been falling on a Lingam. And it is Sivaratri. Acknowledging his ‘puja,’ Siva gives him salvation. This scene is enacted midnight on Sivaratri. Informs Tiruppugazh expert Valayapettai Krishnan: Hailing him as the poor man’s Saviour, Sambandar sings in Sadhaari Pann: “It doesn’t matter if the poor sing his praise unaware of the meaning of words, He who has poison trapped in his throat goes to their rescue.” Moolavar is Swayambu. Sthala vriksham is Vilvam and the tank Yama Tirtham.
