A Hastha Nakshathira Temple – Komal Sri Krupakupareswarar Temple !!
Hastha Nakshathira is the 13th one in the list of Nakshatras. Those belonging to Hastha Nakshathira seemed to be fond of dresses and ornaments. They show great interest in education, enjoy music, dance and other fine arts. They are normally talkative and humorous in nature. But they tend to have a confused mind and they wish for peaceful life. Sri Annapoorani Sametha Krupakupareswarar Temple in a village called Komal in Nagapattinam District is considered as Parihara Temple for the people who are born on Hastham star.
The main deity of this temple is Lord Shiva and He is a Suyambu Linga. He is known by the name Krupakupareswarar. As per the Sthala Purana, once Goddess Parvathi wanted to know how Lord Shiva manages to conduct all the affairs of the world and so she enquired the Lord about it. That time, Lord Shiva got an idea!! He wished to play a Divine Game (Thiruvilaiadal) with the Goddess. So He made the Goddess Parvathi to close His eyes with Her hand in a playful mood. For a moment, all the activities of the world came to a halt. Goddess got shocked and she begged pardon of the Lord. Then Lord Shiva said that since she made the Universe dark by covering His eyes, He would disappear in the Hasthavarna Jyothi (A form of Light from His Hands) that emerged from His hands. He also told that she should go to earth in the form of a cow, find out the light and join Him again. So Goddess Parvathi went to Earth in the form of a Cow and she started searching for the light with the help of Her brother Lord Vishnu. On a Hastha Nakshathira Day, the Jyothi (Light) appeared before the Goddess. This light is known as Komaleeya Jyothi. Then Goddess Parvathi joined the Jyothi. Since Lord Shiva offered His Blessings (Krupa) to Parvathi, He is known by the name Krupakupareswarar. Since this holy incident happened on a Hastha star day, this temple is considered as a Parihara Temple for Hastha Nakshathira.
The Goddess Parvathi is known as Annapoorni. Since the Goddess took the form of a cow and performed Pooja to the Lord, this place is known as ‘Komal’ or ‘Kopuri’ (Ko means Cow). The Sthala Vriksha of this temple is Vilwa Tree. In the temple, we could also find separate shrines for Lord Vinayaka, Muruga, Lingodhbava, Dakshinamurthy, Brahmma, and Chandikeshwar.
As the name suggests, Krupakupareswarar is a God who is full of mercy to His devotees. It is strongly believed that the Lord protects His devotees from any sort of difficulties when He was prayed wholeheartedly. People who are born on Hastha Nakshathira are advised to visit this temple as often as they could since that would help them in getting relieved from the adverse effects of the planetary positions. They are advised to offer Pooja to the Lord and the Goddess with Nivedhanas of Laddu, Vada, and Payasam. People who seek happy wedding life and Child Boon come to this temple with a Cow and Calf and go round the Prakara. It is said that by doing so, they get their wishes fulfilled and they would get a peaceful life.
