Many years ago, sages engaged in intense penance dedicated to Lord Vishnu, giving up food and sleep, which left them so emaciated that they resembled thin paddy stalks, nearly losing their human form. During this period, a king named Uparisiravasu, who had received the Ashtakshara Mantra Upadesa from the Lord, passed through the area with his entourage. Mistaking the sages for paddy stalks due to their appearance, the king and his men began to cut them for food.
In response, the Lord appeared as a small boy and intervened. Despite the king's army's attempts to resist, the boy defeated them effortlessly. The king used the Ashtakshara Mantra to try to overcome the boy, but the mantra yielded to the boy's feet. Realising that the boy was none other than Lord Vishnu Himself, the king fell at His feet and sought forgiveness. The Lord pardoned the king and manifested as Neelamega Perumal. The king, aided by the divine sculptor Viswakarma, then constructed the temple at this location, where Perumal agreed to reside at the king's request.
Sthala Puranam:
Thirukannapuram is one of the five Krishna Kshetrams, alongside:
- Thirukkannankudi
- ThirukkannaMangai
- Thirukannan Kavithalam
- Thirukovilur
In ThirukkannaMangai and Thirukannapuram, Lord Krishna is depicted in a standing posture. At Thirukovilur, Lord Krishna is shown in the "Ulagalantha sevai," where He stands to a great height. Historically, this temple was located near the seashore, but the sea has now receded by about 10 kilometres.
Shakuntala, the daughter of Vishvamitra and Menaka, was raised by the sage Kanva Maharshi. She later married King Dushyanta, but due to a curse, he forgot her. To reunite them, a fish swallowed Shakuntala's wedding ring, prompting King Dushyanta to search for her upon finding the ring.
As the fisherman played a crucial role in reuniting Shakuntala and Dushyanta, they are referred to as "Bharathavars." To commemorate this, Neela Megha Perumal married Padmavathi, a princess from the fisherman's clan. An annual special pooja is conducted for Utsavar Sowriraja Perumal by the local fishermen.
Neela Megha Perumal is honoured similarly to Varadaraja Perumal of Kanchi, and He has appeared in person to Thandaka Maharishi, a former king who achieved the status of Maharishi through his penance at Kanchi.
Vibishana, seeking to take Ranganathar from SriRangam, was unable to do so as Ranganathar was in a sleeping posture. He prayed to witness Ranganathar’s divine walk. Consequently, Lord Neela Megha Perumal invited Vibishana to Thirukannapuram on a new moon day and displayed His beautiful walk.
A demon named Vikataksham was vanquished by Neela Megha Perumal using His chakram (discus), and the Lord continues to grant darshan with this powerful weapon, ready to dispel evil.