Thread by @sk_diary1

Amazing sculptures at Athmanatha Swamy #temple
Avudaiyarkoil,TN

Just zoom in & see the detailing done on stone...just brilliant..you can see the nerves in hand of Bhagwan Shiva who took the form of Kuthirai Swamy wearing horseman dress with a whip in hand.
#storytimethread 👇

#Story -This temple is also called Thirupendhurai Kovil.Dedicated to Shiva - was built in 9th century by minister of King Arimarthana Pandyan.Manickavasagar(Vadhavooran)had built this temple with
money the king had entrusted him for purchasing Arabian horses.

1/n

He had to pass by a place called Tirupperunthurai.As he was passing by place,heard chants of Vedic hymns & was drawn to it.He saw an old man sitting under a Kurunthu tree,that very moment he felt, that saint was his Guru. Sage blessed him with the Mantra Shivayanama
2/n

Shiva was his guru - Vadavurar plunged into deep meditation and singing hymns on Shiva.Shiva was highly pleased with it, and called him ‘Manickavachagar’ as the hymns sung by him were like gems in wisdom.He forgot the purpose for which he started the journey &spent all money.
3/n

Meanwhile,King, at Madurai was waiting eagerly for horses to come but there was no news of that.He sent his spies in search of Vadhavooran ,he got shocking news that Vadhavooran had not gone any further than Tirupperunthurai,was constructing a temple and feeding the poor.
4/n

The King was furious & asked his men to immediately bring Vadhavooran to Madurai.Only when the men told Vadhavooran about King’s order, he remembered his mission, was aghast that all money had been spent by him in charity & temple construction.
5/n

He went inside the temple to meet the old man (Shiva) &he surrendered to him. He about the mission & dilemma he was facing.Old man patted Vadhavooran and said,“Do not worry.Go back to your king & tell him that horses will arrive on Avani (Tamil month) Aug/sep Moolam(star) day
6/n

Vadhavooran told the same to King without even thinking how it would ever happen.Since an army of horses were supposed to arrive spies of king were looking for clouds of dust from afar since the galloping of so many horses.
There was no sign of any horses,King thought he lied
7/n

Shiva wanted to play some mischief,that very night,all foxes in jungles near #Madurai got transformed into horses & suddenly out of nowhere,there were100 very high class horses, being led by horsemen &a leader reached.King was puzzled along with Vadhavooran received horses.
8/n

King was told about the happenings and he was furious. He thought that Vadhavooran was practising some black magic & ordered him to be arrested immediately.Shiva was ready with his next thiruvilayadal to save Manickavasagar & to teach a lesson to king - requires new thread
9/n

All pictures/ photos in this thread - credit to respective owners.
Source text -thiruvenkidapuram blog
10/10

Thread on Kuthirai Swamy - #sculpture #storytimethread - Aathmanathar Koil
#omnamahshivay
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