Vallabhacharya extols the virtues of Yamunaji in the fourth verse of Shree Yamunashtakam and says, “Anant Guna Bhushite, Shiv Virinchi Devastute.” Who is Virinchi? What sin had he committed? How does Shiva forgive him? Why does Vallabhacharya refer to this story in the Shree Yamunashtakam? It all begins with…
Brahma and Vishnu
In an age beyond Time, Vishnu sleeps on Ananta upon the Kshirasagara. The universe has experienced dissolution. Vishnu gives birth to Brahma through a lotus. The lotus has an endless golden stalk and a blue corolla that emerges out of his navel. For aeons after that Brahma tries to find his way out of the lotus. But to no avail. He then hears a voice that says, “Meditate to find your way out.”
So Brahma performs a Tapasya and manages to find his way out of the lotus. When he sees his father, Vishnu sleeping peacefully on Ananta, he strikes Him awake and says, “How dare you lie there so arrogantly. Don’t you know who I am?”
Vishnu knows Mayaa is deluding Brahma. So He greets Brahma calmly and says, “Come here, my son. Why are you so distraught? Sit by me and tell me what makes you so anxious.” But Brahma haughtily says, “How dare you call me ‘my son’? I am the Pitamah, the creator, protector and destroyer of the universe.” Vishnu says, “You were born from me, O Brahma. I am your father. Not the other way round.”
The cosmic pillar
In no time, Brahma and Vishnu start fighting with their cosmic weapons. And the devas watch in horror because they know the flames from their astras will consume the cosmos itself. And suddenly a column of fire appears between them. Brahma says, “What is this?” Vishnu says, “It is beyond me too. You find its head and I’ll find the root.”
So Vishnu turns into a boar and dives downwards. And Brahma transforms into a swan and flies up. They travel endlessly for several years. But are unable to find the end of the blazing phallus. Vishnu admits defeat and returns to the place where they started off. But Brahma continues to soar upwards.
When Shiva sees their pathetic condition, he laughs. And the Ketaki flowers on his head float down the infinite column of fire and fall over Brahma. Brahma feels surprised, “From whose head did you fall? How far up is this entity’s top?” The Kethaki flowers say, “We have been falling forever through this column. We don’t know where and when we began our downward journey. If we could not find the top of this column, how will you?”
Brahma lies
Brahma says, “Will you do me a favour? Tell Vishnu that I saw the top of this Linga and you witnessed it.” The Kethakis say not a word. Brahma returns to the place they had started, meets Vishnu and smugly says, “I saw the top of this Linga. These Kethakis witnessed me doing so.” But before Vishnu can say anything, Shiva steps out of the Linga as Bhairava. He seizes Brahma’s fifth head, the one that lied to Vishnu, and prepares to lop it off.
But Vishnu pleads with Shiva and asks him to forgive Brahma for this was his first offence. Shiva agrees and says, “Brahma will never be worshipped in any temple. But will become the lord of sacrifices.”
MargaBandheshwara Swamy temple – Virinchipuram
The MargaBandheshwara Swamy temple in Virinchipuram is the oldest temple in Vellore district. River Palar flows through this region. This area is also known as Bhaskar Kshetram because the Sun’s rays fall directly on the Garbha Graha in the month of Panguni(March – April).
People believe Adi Shankaracharya sanctified a well and installed a Chakram in it. We can see this well, Singha Theertham, as soon as we enter the temple.
The presiding deity, MargaBandheshwara, a Swayambhu Lingam is enshrined here with his consort Maragadhambigai. We also find several rare idols of BhikshaDanaMurti, Panchamukha Lingam and Shaneeshwara here.
The Sthala Puran, Shiva Rahasyam, Brahmanda Puran and other holy books mention several legends associated with this temple. According to these texts – Vashishtha describes the glory of this Sthala to other rishis.
Gowri, the Parashakti performs an austere penance for Shiva. So this place is also known as Gowripura. Karan, an asura achieves salvation through his devotion for Shiva who manifests as Thirumal here.
Shiva forgives Virinchi
This place is also known as Virinchipuram because Brahma, also known as Virinchi, performs an austere penance here. Brahma seeks forgiveness from Shiva for lying to Him about seeing the top of the fiery Lingam. Shiva blesses Brahma and frees him from his curse here.
Brahma/Virinchi is reborn as Shivasaruman
According to the Sthala Puran, Brahma is reborn as Shivanadhan’s (a priest) son. Shivanadhan performs all the rituals for MargaBandheshwara. But one day, he dies suddenly leaving behind his young wife and a small son called Shivasaruman, who is actually Brahma reborn.
The responsibility of performing all the rituals lands on young Shivasaruman’s shoulders. The other priests prevent him from doing so because they feel Shivasaruman is very young.
Shivanadhan’s wife and son have no other means of income to sustain themselves. So she prays to MargaBandheshwara who appears in her dreams, instructs Shivasaruman to perform the rituals and promises to take care of them.
MargaBandheshwara forgives Virinchi
The next morning, much to the amazement of all the devotees and other priests, when Shivasuraman tries to perform the Abhishekam of MargaBandheshwara’s Lingam, the Lord Himself bends his head to enable him to do so.
It is believed that Shiva shows Shivasuraman/Brahma the top of his head, releases him from His curse and forgives him for lying about seeing the top of his cosmic Lingam earlier. And that is why Lingam enshrined at MargaBandheshwar temple is slightly bent at this shrine and this place is called Virinchipuram.
Shiva as MargaBandheshwara
We also find another story about a pepper merchant who is on his way to Kanchipuram through this area with a heavy load of pepper bags. Dacoits attack him and take away his merchandise.
The merchant prays devoutly to Shiva who appears on a horse as MargaBandheswara instantly. He fights the dacoits, chases them away, escorts the merchant safely to Kanchipuram and disappears. So Shiva is known as MargaBandheshwara, the lord who is the divine escort of all.
Margabandhu Stotram
Some say that Aiyappa Dikshitar’s (a renowned scholar) enemies once performed some black magic on him and poisoned him. So Aiyappa Dikshitar prayed to MargaBandheshwara who rids him of the poison and the effect of black magic too.
Aiyappa Dikshitar feels overwhelmed by the lord’s gesture. So he composes the Margabandhu stotram extolling the virtues of MargaBandheshwara. And requests the Lord to always protect the people who travelled through this area.
Even today, barren women and girls who are under the influence of ghosts and black magic sleep in the presence of MargaBandheshwara because they believe that the Lord will bless them with children and cure them of their ill-health.
Shiva, Virinchi and Yamunaji
We get the answers to our questions after reading these interesting stories. Vallabhacharya eulogises Yamunaji and says, “You are endowed with infinite gunas. You can calm Shiva’s fury and enable Him to forgive Brahma. You can shatter Virinchi’s pride and enable him to realize the folly of vanity and deceit.”
Perhaps Vallabhacharya urges us to chant the Shree Yamunashtakam regularly because he knows that Yamunaji alone can help us curb our anger and egoistic tendencies and create space for virtues like forgiveness and humility in our souls.
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