Legend Of Vajragadha Pandya

Legend of Vajragadha Pandya

Vajragadha Pandya was ruling over the Pandya country with Madurai as his capital. One day he went out into the forest to hunt with his retinue. Leaving his followers behind he went alone after a mysterious civet (Punuga cat). Riding on his horse he went after it for a considerable distance. The civet went round the hill of Arunachala and fell down dead before him. The horse on which the King was riding also fell down and died.

At once appeared in the sky two celestial beings and uttered these words, "We are two Vidhydharas, Kanthisali and Kaladhara. As we trespassed into the flower garden

of Sage Duruvasar he cursed us to turn into a horse and civet. By making the circuit of Arunachala hill we have regained our original forms. Your have committed a sin by coming round this holy hill on horse-back. You will get absolved of it if you come round the hill on foot with sincere devotion".

Having said so the celestial beings vanished into the skies. Vajragadha Pandya returned to his capital and enthroned his son Ratnagadha. Taking some treasure with him he returned to Thiruvannamallai and did great improvements to the temple. He went round the hill till one day Arunachaleshwar appeared and blessed him with the position of Indra, the head of the Devas