Mahadevar Temple, Mahadevamalai, Kankuppam, Vellore
| Date built: | – |
|---|---|
| Deity: | Mahadevar |
| Architectural style: | Dravidian architecture |
| Major festivals | – |
| Locale: | Kankuppam |
| District:: | Vellore |
| Address: | – |
| Phone | – |
Mahadevar Temple is a Hindu Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva located at Mahadevamalai Hills in Kankuppam Village in Vellore District of Tamilnadu. This Temple is located to the west of Katpadi. The Temple is said to be 500 years old, the temple was built by a trader of the Pandya kingdom.
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Legend / Local stories
Mahananda Siddha:
Mahananda Siddha was born in Dharmapuri district on December 6, 1930. For some time, he was engaged in the pleasant-smelling turmeric trade. At the age of thirty-five, he undertook renovation work in many temples in Tamil Nadu under the inspiration of Lord Shiva and started feeding the poor (Annadhanam) at Lokuvakulam Bharadhwajeeswarar temple of Kalahasthi in Andhra Pradesh. On the midnight of December 25, 2002, Lord Siva appeared before Mahananda and said,
“You are very fortunate in this life; You are a siddha with a boon to live for a thousand years; Go to Mahadeva Mount and live in a cave and worship Me and protect the devotees”.
Lord Shiva disappeared after that. As commanded by the God, Mahananda Siddha reached Mahadeva mount. As Lord Shiva appeared again before Mahananda Siddha he said:
“You should brush your teeth and take bath only on the first day of Chithirai; you should not seek alms from anyone; all the wealth will be heaped here; you should protect all the living creatures in this mountain from disease and suffering; from now on you should not eat food to satisfy your hunger or drink water to quench your thirst”.
After giving this advice Lord Shiva disappeared. One can see the form on the head of Mahadeva Swami is similar to the serpent with five heads on Lord Shiva’s head. Mahananda siddha worships the idol with flowers that spread fragrance and leaves with good smell. He is a siddha who can meditate by lying on the fire. It is true that we cannot live without food. But Mahananda siddha has demonstrated that it is possible to live without taking food. It is a matter of wonder to learn that this great siddha has not taken food or water for many number of years.
Lord Shiva darshan to a Merchant, a Shiva Devotee:
Legend has it that the merchant, an ardent devotee of Siva, prayed for his darshan and was asked to go to Kalahasti on Maha Shivaratri day. The merchant started the journey and reached a place called K.V. Kuppam (Keezh Vazhi Thunai Kuppam) and made enquiries about the route to Kalahasti. He learnt that he was far away from Kalahasti and the day was Maha Shivaratri. An old man approached the crestfallen trader promising to show him the Lord. The two reached a hill and the old man turned out to be Siva, who ordained the devotee to build a temple there. The village from where the trader was met by came to be called Keezh Vazhi Thunai Kuppam.
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