THIRIPURA SAMHARAM BY LORD SIVA

ACCORDING TO KANDHAPURANAM
by Dr.S.Jayabarathi
It is a common belief that Thai Pusam is a festival which is held for Murugan. But the Saivites and Sakthas also hold the same festival in esteem. But for different reasons. The Saivites hold this festival is veneration of Thiripura Samharam by Lord Siva. Some of you would have seen the Tamil version. Here is the English version for the same story. As I said, writing in Agathiyar is a Tapas to me. Agathiyar - A bilingual list for discussing Tamil / Indian culture, arts, crafts, science, traditions, heritage, history, literature, mysticism, and religion. The list uses English and Tamil fonts based on TSCII from Jan 1999. Unicode fonts are used since 2007. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/agathiyar/

THIRIPURANTAKA The Thiripuraadhis were three asuras. They were Thaarakaaksha, Kamalaaksha, and Vidhyunmaali who were the sons of Thaaraka asura. They performed intense tapas towards Brahma. They asked for immortality. But Brahma told them that only one was immortal, and that was the Supreme Lord Siva who was the SarvEsvara. So they asked for three fortified flying cities of gold, silver, and iron which would be in Bhumi, Midspace, and Paradise. They should be able to go anywhere, whenever they wished. They could be destroyed only by He Who is Most Supreme and Immortal. He should destroy them together with only one missile. This should be done only when the three purams or fortified cities come together at one place. They should assemble together for only minute fraction of a moment. That particular time should be on the Pushya nakshatra day of Thai month. The cities should be filled with every form of riches and luxuries, entertainments, and enjoyments and should be equal to the royal cities where important asuras could reside with every amenities and luxuries. The asuras should possess unequaled valour and boundless courage. Brahma granted all this.

All the asuras heard about this this and they came together. The asura architect called Mayan, constructed the three cities according to the specifications asked for by the asuras and granted by Brahma. (There were two architects - the asura architect was Mayan. His counterpart for the Devas was VisvaKarma. Apart from being architects who built cities, they also made weapons; flying chariots of the gods, etc .These were the Thiri Purams. Mayan also gave them invaluable advice. "Siva is the supreme Lord of Lords. He possesses fast missiles and strong and powerful bows. He is the Treasure house of all the souls. He is the Lord of all the worlds. He does not show patience to enemies but shows boundless love towards His devotees who pray to Him and worship Him. He also tolerates the wrongs committed by His bhakthas. All the Vedas say that He bears the sharpest weapons". "Therefore it is imperative that everybody should worship the Supreme Lord of all - SarvEsvara. If He is worshipped, all the troubles, enemies, diseases, and bad planets will disappear and there will be great peace of mind". "You and all your kinsmen should worship Him in the Siva Linggam. If you worship Him, who gives goodness to all the worlds, all your enemies will be destroyed by His Grace. So, you must pledge within your minds and worship Him with Bhakthi and care. You will receive all riches, victories, and His Blessings". The asura brothers took Mayan's words and followed his advices. They also received Siva Linggams for pujai from Mayan. By preforming Siva pujai with austerities and sincerity, the asuras attained everything they wanted. Everything that the others possessed became theirs. The devas and the deva women became their servants. They went with their cities to wherever they willed. The cities would alight upon whole worlds and crush and destroy them. So Vishnu, Brahma, and the devas convened at mount Meru and discussed how the asuras could be destroyed. According to the decision taken, they performed a fierce yaaga, which set a great number of bhuthas to destroy the asuras. But the bhuthas were destroyed instead. Because of this, the asuras in return disturbed the devas. So the devas escaped and went into hiding in Mount Meru. After this, Vishnu, Brahma and the devas decided upon a plot. The Thiripura asuras were powerful because of their strict disciplines and austerities that they observed and the pujais that they performed to Siva. If they stopped these austerities and worship, Lord Siva Himself would destroy them. So Vishnu took the form of a Buddha and Naradha became his disciple. Both of them went to the asuras and convinced them with their teachings and deviated them from their religious observances. They also made them lose their strict religious disciplines. By performing many acts of maya, they made them beleive that Vishnu Buddha was the supreme god. Thus they prevented the asuras from performing Siva pujai. The asuras removed their rudrakshas, vibhuthi, pujai, and all other aspects of Siva worship. But the three Thiri puraadhi brothers were incorruptible and remained as staunch Saivites as ever. Vishnu and the other devas went to the Maanasa SarOvar lake and immersed themselves neck-deep in the water. Vishnu chanted the Rudra manthras and all the devas stood in the water around him and did severe tapas and facing him.

Siva appeared before them and told them to prepare vibhuthi according to the Viraja HOma method, wear it and observe the Paasupatha Viradham. At that time, Murugan who was in the form of a child upon the laps of Siva, performed the Cosmic Dance. Then the devas did as told by Siva, and observed the Paasupatha Viradha. Thereupon Siva sent Nandhi to the devas, ordering them to prepare all the equipment for war, like the chariot, bow, and arrow.

THIRUVIRKOLAM TANJAVUR BIG TEMPLE MURALS The devas held a council and decided on the equipment. The Meru Mountain became the bow; Adhi sEshan became the bow string. Maha Vishnu became the tip of the arrow. Four among the best of the leading devas formed the arrow. The shaft of the arrow - Chandra; Agni - the arrow handle. Vaayu - the arrow vane(feather). Vindya - the axle of the chariot Kesara Giri - axle-hub Bhumi - asana Aakaasam - chariot interior Sun and Moon - the wheels The four vedas - the horses Rishis - sooth-sayers Kinnaras, Kimpurushas, Yaksha, and Siddhas - announcers Garudas, Gandarvas, and Saaranas - praise-singers

The eight Maha Nagas, eight Kula Parvathas, Oceans, Clouds, etc., - the superstructure and ornaments. Manthras, Sixty-four saasthras, KaamadEnu, Thithis, Yaagas, karmas, dharmas, ages, eras, days, months, seasons, components of time - formed the miscellaneous parts of the chariot like the nails, etc. Brahma was the charioteer. The Pranavam was the horse-whip. The devas and their leaders formed the army. When all this was ready, Nandhi went back to Kailaasam and told Siva about it. Siva arrived and ascended the chariot bearing the bow and arrows in His hands. But the chariot could not bear the weight and started to sink into the Paathala. Vishnu took the form of a bull and supported the chariot with the blessings of Siva. Following this, Siva and the devas performed puujai for VignEsvara. The Saint Arunagirinathar sings that because Siva and the others did not perform Vinayaka pujai before the war enterprise, Vinaayaka Himself caused the axle of the chariot to disintegrate. 'mupuuram eri seydha achchivan uRai radham achchadhu podi seydha adhi thiiraa!' The chariot, then started with Vinaayaka and Murugan escorting on both sides upon their vaahanas. Because of the irreverent and irreligious lives of the asuras, all the divine riches that they possessed, vanished. When the specific time came, the three purams came together. Siva held the tip of the bow in one hand. He gazed upon the three purams with His three eyes. The three purams started burning and turning to ashes. He also waved His hand slightly.

THIRIPURANTAKA Seeing that Siva could burn the three purams with a mere smile of His, the devas asked Him to discharge the arrow also. Siva did so. The arrow struck home and the three purams turned completely to ashes.

THIRIPURA SAMHARAM TANJAVUR BIG TEMPLE MURALS Because the asuras at one time were staunch worshippers of Siva, all of them became leaders of the Siva Ganas. The three brothers were not harmed when the purams burned. Unscathed, they came to see Siva. They worshipped Siva and Siva told them to ask for boons. But they asked Siva that they should become the door-keepers - Dvaara Paalas in Siva's personal chambers. Siva granted their wish and made them into Dvaara Paalas to His private chamber. And that is the 'Thiripura Samhaaram' or 'Thiripuraanthagam'. This is one of the 'atta viirach cheyalgaL' of Siva - The eight Valourous Acts of Lord Siva'. Eight Siva sthalas stand for each one of those Virra Cheyals of Siva. Among the Viira CheyalgaL are the followingPlucking of Brahma's head Athakaasura Vadham, Thiripuraanthakam, Kaala Samhaaram, Destruction of Kaaman, etc. Each of these sthalams stand for each one of these valorous acts. They are called 'Atta Viirattam'. Thirukkadaiyuur is the Viirattam where Siva destroyed Yama. In that sthalam, He is known as the 'Kaala Sammaara Muurththi' . Thiruvadhigai Viirattam is the place where Thirunaavaukkarasarar received salvation - 'Thaduththu aatkoLLal'. His first ThEvaara padhigam's last lines call out to Lord Siva of Adhigai Viirattam on the banks of the River Kedilam. 'aaRREn adiyEn adhigai kedila viirattaanaththuRai ammaanE!' The eight 'atta viirattam's are: KaNdiyuur Kadavuur Adhigai Valzuvuur PaRiyaluur KOvaluur KuRukkai ViRkudi

There is a sthalam called Thiru ViRkOlam. That is the place where Siva stood prepared for war with his bow and arrow. There is another place called 'AcchiRuPaakkam'. It was at this place that Vinaayaka caused the axle to disintegrate. It was also here, that Siva and others performed the VignEsvara puujai for victory in the endeavour. The place is otherwise known as Kuuvam. Kuuvam also means 'axle'. Thiru Kuuvam is one of the ThEvara sthalas. It has received a padhigam from Thirunaavukkarasar. The River Kuuvam is named after the place. It was not after all the giant sewer that people accredit to it. The Thiripura Sammaaram took place on a Thai Puusam. The Saivites hold it sacred on account of that. Murugan received His Sakthi VEl aayudham from Ambikai on Thai Puusam. So, Murugan devottees hold it in esteem. The Shaakthas hold it sacred because it falls on the Full Moon's day in the nakshatram of Pushya during the month of Magaram Thai.