Part II - The Greatness of Bhakti or Devotion ;-

Gautama's curse and Devandra's misery
Our Hindu puranas speak about three worlds. They are our world, the world above and the nether world. The world above belongs to the Devas and the ruler of the world is called Devendra. He is repected in our puranas.

Once Devendra developed a passionate desire for Ahalya, wife of Gautama. Though Indra is the Lord of the Devas he was blinded by consuming passion and lost reason. He tried on several days to fulfil his passion. One day at midnight he assumed the form of a cock and went to Gautama's Ashram and started crowing. On hearing the cock's crowing sage Gautama thought that it was dwwn. He woke up and proceeded to take his bath. Taking advantage of the Sage's absence at the Ashram, Devendra entered the ashram and won over Ahalya.

Gautama reached river Ganges and found that it was only midnight. Gangoes was asleep and so he rerurned to the ashram. Indra assumed the shape of a cock and he was running out of the ashram when Gautama saw him. Gautama could see what had happened. He immediately cursed Indra to the effect that the entrie surface of Indra's body came to be covered with female genital organs. He also cursed Ahalya so that she has transformed into a stone.

Indra was very much ashamed of what had happened to him. He felt shy. He prostrated before the sage and prayed for redemption. The sage took pity on him and said that if he performed pooja to the Trinity when they were together he could get rid of the most shameful blemish.

Though Indra was consoled to some extent he remained confined to his place convering his whole body. What a shame for the King of the Devas who fell a victim to undue passion!.

Narada came to know of this and he went to Indra. Indra requested Narada to help him in getting rid of the curse Narada promised him help.

Narada's message and the sacred Peepul tree
Narada had heard from Indra that the Trinity were at Athri's ashram. So he rushed to that place. He worshipped them and told them that Devendra was put to extreme suffering because of Gautama's curse and so as instructed by the sage he must be devoid of the curse.

Sage Athri who was listening to his said that when he came to know of Indra's suffering he felt pity for him and he wanted to save him. He supported Narada's plea.

Listening to this, the Trinity agreed to save Indra abd they sat under a peepul tree on the southern side of the pragna theertha. It is praised in a sloka that in this, Brahma was at the foot, Vishnu was at the middle and Siva at the top, It is also said that during the other three yugas this tree changes into Thulasi, Bilva and Konnai. In this Kaliyuga we can find this Konnai tree in this temple even today.

Indra's coming and Narada's refusal
Narada returned to Indra who was sitting in his court surrounded by Devas, with deep sorrow. When Indra saw Narada he was very happy. Narada told him that he would be freed of the curse and he should immediately go to Gnana Aranya, Indira soon after left for pragna teertha in his golden chariot led by Airavatham-the snow white elephant which is his mount. He was followed by his devas in all their pomp and pageantry. He reached the northern side of the Pragna teertha. He left behind all his followers and with his Airavatham he came to the Trinity who were at the Peepul tree. But the moment he reached the place he was prevented by Nandi Deva and Indra could not go near the Trinity. Nandi stubbornly refused admission to Indra in spite of his request. He told Indra that it was not enouh if he came along hut he should come with the blessings of his Kula Guru.

The place where Indra's chariot (ratha) was stationed is even today known by the name "Theroor". And the Nandi that refused admission to Indra can be seen at the temple even today.

Indra gets the blessing
On the advice of Nandi Deva, Indra went to the hill which is situated on the eastern side of Gana Aranya and offered penance for his Kula Guru, Brahaspathi. For this he dug a small tank. Indra was thus engaged in the tapas and the sapta Kanvas tried their best to distrub the penance. But they did not succeed. At last Brahaspathi appeared before him. Indra prostrated before him.

Brahaspathi told that he should offer puja to Nandi deva and vinayaka for success. Then he must offer puja to the peepul tree where they are abiding. In front of Peepul tree a tub containing boiling ghee should be set up. Then Indra should dip himself into the tub for 1003 times chanting the "Panchaksha" mantra. If he would perform this Sage Brahaspathi said, then the Gods would appreciate Indra's penance they would purify him and clear him of the blot caused by the curse. Saying this he disappeared.

The hill upon which Indra did the penance is still there on the eastern side of this village and it is known as "Maruthuva Malai". The spot where the penance was done is known as Devendran Pothai and there is a spring knows as Devendra sunai. Some people believe that the mouthain is so called bcause there are many herbs growing in that hill. It is also known as Siddha Sailam because some Siddhas used to stay here.

Kottaru and the terrible curse
Devendra then decided to perform the pooja. He considered that is would be better if he could take bath in the following waters of a river before the performance. So he commanded his Airavatha to bring river water. So he commanded his Airavatha to bring river water. The snow white elephant then went towards the eastern hills and with the help of its four tusks it draw canal from the mountain source to ganaranya. The whole Ganaranya was filled with water and Sage Athri was very happy. The water brought by the river irrigated the places around gana aranya and paddy is cultivated in vast areas in this place even today. So this place is called Nanchinad. Since the river is brought by an elephant it is called "Danda Nadhi" (Dand'a means tusk). It is also called its four tusks was broken. It became very sad and it was overtaken by fatigue. It took rest under a peepul tree on the western side of the Pragnateertha tank. After some time it broke a branch of the Peepul tree. It happened to fall on the Sage Vedavyasa got angry with that and cursed the person who had done it. As a result of the curse Airavatha was changed into a stone elephant.
The river "Kottaru" is known as Pazhayaru and it flows near the village. On the western side of the tank (theppakulam) is the stone elephant. There is also a small temple for Vinayaka knows as the Vedavysa Vinayakar.

The desperate sages and the Munnitri Nangai
Indra took bath in the water brought by this elephant. He offered worship to Nandhi Deva and Vigneswara. As per the instructions of his Kula Guru he offered puja to the peepul tree set us a large vessel filled it with ghee and made it boil.
With great bakthi in his mind and with the panchakshara nama in his tips he dipped into the vessel containing boiling ghee.
Lo! What to speak of the flory of Bhaktil is it not immeasurable! Indra never felt the heat. The Devas and the sages assembled at that place to witness this marvel. For a while the sages were desperate because they feared that Indra wouldn't survive this ordeal.
Since the gods did not appear even after this he thought that he should immolate himself in "Homa agni". There were hundred devas and Durga devi who would stand witness to that deed.
A temple dedicated to this Durga devi who is known as Munnutri Nangai still stands on the northern side of the tank.

Redemption from the curse and Suchindrum
At this moment the Trinity appeared before Indra and told him that he had suffered all this because he coveted other man's wife. But yet because he had shown great bakti regretting or his lapses they were pleased with him. They blessed him so that he was relieved of the curse. They asked him to perform this puja every day.
Indra put up a "Jothi linga representing the Trinity Siva, Vishnu and Brahma-Thanu, Mal, Ayan-and the daily puja is performed every day.
Therefore there is no artha-jama-puja in this temple. Also we cannot see the abhisheka that is done for the lings. There is no "gomukhi" for the "abhishekadeertha" to flow out. Since the arthajamapuja is perfored by Indra, the priest who performs the evening puja today will not perform tomorrows morning Puja, some other priest will do it. So two priests will perform pooja in this temple alternately.
When the priest enters the "sanctum sancrorum" in the morning he will take the pledge saying that he wouldn't reveal whatever he happens to see there. The priests are Kerala Namboodiris coming from the most orthodox houses of sukhapuram, perumanam and irinjalakuda.
Thus Indra's body was purified at this place and therefore this place is called suchindru,
Suchi-pure, + Indra = the place where Indra was purified. The place where he set up the Linga is called the "moola sthanam". The Nandi and the Vinayaka, which were worshipped by Indra can also be seen in this temple.
For a very long time there was practice in this temple it was to ask the guily people to dip their hands into the boiling ghee as Indra had done in the yore. But this practice was abandoned during the reign of Swathi Thirunal Rama Varma Maharaja (A.D. 1839 to 1849) upon the benign orders of his highness.
It is true that those who offer workship at his temple would enjoy all the pleasures of this world and attain salvation.
The greatness of bakthi is the greatness of the people of Bharat!