Tapas means penance and it also means Knowledge. Supreme penance leads to ultimate knowledge and hence the two are synonymous in essence.
Yasya Jnaanamayam Tapah – Whose tapas is the nature of knowledge (Mundaka Upanishad)
There were two Siva Ganas, disciples of Shiva – Malyavan and Pushpadanta. These two Ganas were always quarelling for something or the other. Malyavan was once cursed to become a spider and Pushpadanta got the curse to become an elepehant. Both of them came to the same place Jambujeswaram and continued their fight. The spider always spun a web on the Shivalinga to protect it from Dry leaves, while the elephant poured water on the linga to bathe it and thus destroyd the web. The spider angrily bit the elephant one day and the elephant died, while it fell crashing the spider was also killed. Owing to their devotion, the spider was re-born as the Chola King while the elephant was born as an elephant again. Now the king, owing to the past remberance built about 70 Shiva temples, but each temple had some steps with a landing etc. to ensure no elephant would enter the temple. The elephant Pushpadantan, was desperate to worship Lord Vishnu to attain liberation but the temple approach was unsuitable for the elephant to worship the Lord. But, owing to it’s intense devotion, the Lord then decided that if the elephant cannot come in to serve them, the Lord came out as the Utsava murthy and seated on Pushpadantan, the elephant/ Thus the elephant became the gajavahanam where the Lord and His eternal consort were seated and thus the elephant attained liberation.
As an elephant worshipped Siva here, this place came to be known as Thiru Aanai Kaa (thiru means holy, aanai is elephant, kaa (kaadu) means forest). Later the name ‘Thiruaanaikaa’ became ‘Thiruvanaikaval’ and ‘Thiruvanaikoil’.
Lets chant the Holy Name of the one with Supreme Knowledge and seek to be always in His penance at all times by chanting His Holy name. The Lord is the one with Supreme Knowledge who reaches out to His devotees who are always in His penance. If the efforts to realize and reach the Lord are very sincere and truthful;, the Lord Himself makes way to reach out to the Devotee. One step from the devotee towards the Lord, and the Lord has already taken several strides towards the devotee, such is His Love and reciprocation for a very small and sincere effort by us.
Nama 123 – VishnuSahasranama
End of Shloka 13
Rudro Bahushira Babhruh Vishvayonih Suchishravah |
Amrutah SasvataSthanuh Vararoho Mahatapah ||13|
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare
