THAYUMANAVAR TURNING WEST

Saramamunivar, a great ascetic and descendant of Thirumoolar chrysanthemum who lived in Woraiyur maintained a flower garden for lord Thayumanavar. He planted Chevanthi plants, which he got from the Serpent king. He used to worship Thayumanavar Swamy of Trichy everyday, offering garland made of flowers from his garden to Lord Shiva. He daily offered the Chrysarthemum flowers to the Chevanthinathar. At that time Paranthakan Chola ruled over Woraiyur. A local florist, saw the beauty of the flowers from his garden, he plucked the flowers and gave it to the king and started taking flowers from Saramamunivar garden, and started supplying to the King in the palace to keep himself in the good books of the king. As the king was happy with the flowers, Pranthakan started stealing flowers from the garden regularly. Everyday Saramamunivar found flowers missing from his garden. Saramamunivar complained it to the king. “the flowers were meant exclusively for Lord Thayumanavar and Pranthakan is stealing them everyday. The king didn't give an ear to it, as he already started liking those flowers. But he did not punish the merchant. The sage went straight to Lord Thayumanavar and prayed to put an end to Pranthakan’s activity. The Lord turned wild after hearing this. The God what was facing east till then, turned facing west (towards Woraiyur), with his powerful eyes open, emitting anger which resulted in a huge sand storm and started spoiling the whole city of Woraiyur. Sand filled everywhere burying the city. People were helpless and didn't know the reason for the sudden sandstorm at Woraiyur. They went and surrendered to Vekkali Amman, praying to save them. The Goddess went to Lord Thayumanavar and prayed to calm down. Thayumanavar subsided his anger and the sand storm came to a halt. People thanked the Goddess for saving them. Though the sand storm stopped, the people of the city lost their shelters already. Hence, Goddess also decided to live in a temple without roof, until everyone in the city gets a shelter for themselves. Till today, Vekkaliamman temple doesn't have any roof. The Moolavar is open to the sky, be it rain or shine. It is said that, many attempts have been made to build a roof for this temple at various occassions, which ended in vain.

The king lost his life. His queen pregnant then gave birth to a son. He is ‘Karikalcholan’, the great Chola king who built Kallanai, the stone dam across river Cauvery. 2000 years ago. He dug the holy tank for the shrine ‘Somarogani’ or ‘Brahma theertha’ in NSB road, You can see the idol of ‘Saramamunivar’ with corn in front of kodi maram, announcing the destruction of Uraiyur.