Viragu Vitra Leelai

The tenth day of Avani Moola Maha Utsavam is going to be held at Madurai Meenakshi Amman Temple Old Thirukkalayana Mandapam at 4.30 p.m. on Tuesday, September 01, 2009. This is the one of the interesting Thiruvilayadal performed by Lord Sundareswarar in Madurai to preserve a famous vocalist in the Pandiyan Kingdom. The Leela is known as "Viragu Vitra Leelai" (Lord Sundareswarar Himself traded Firewoods in Madurai streets to save His devotee Baanapathiran).

Story of Viragu Vitra Leelai

During the Varaguna Pandiyan ruling period in Madurai, a singer named Hemanathan from north side visited Madurai and sung various songs and got prizes. Hemanathan said to King with bigheaded voice, is there any vocalists in this kingdom to beat me. Suddenly, Asthana Pandithar Paanabathirar striked to King's mind. King also accepted the Hemanathar's challenge, but Paanabathirar felt that he was not suitable to beat Hemanathan, so he surrendered Lord Shiva and requested to preserve him and Pandiya Kingdom. Lord Sundareswarar accepted his request and came to Madurai city streets as a Firewood trader humming songs. At night, Lord Sundareswarar (Firewood Trader) sung songs at Hemanathar staying place. Hemanathar forget himself on receiving Lord's songs. Then Hemanathar asked the Firewood Trader, from whom you learn the songs. Firewood Trader replied that the great vocalists "Asthana Pandithar Baanapathirar" taught me. Hemanathar shocked and immediately left that place and also written in a leaf that he and his abilities everything bestowed to Paanabathirar and Pandiyan Kingdom.