The Ganges flows into a well – Story!
This is a true lila of Lord Shiva happened in a village of Tamilnadu called “Thiruvisai nallur” that is popular in that state.
On the day of the New Moon (Amavasya) in the month of Karthik, Thiruvisanallur usually witnesses a veritable flood of people.
Three hundred years ago, a great saint—affectionately known to the people as “Sridhara Ayyaval”—lived in this region.
Born in the village of Thiruvisanallur (Located in Thanjavur district), he was not only an eminent saint but also a master of Carnatic music.
He, along with the saints called “Bodhendra” and “Nerur Sadasiva Brahmendra”, were contemporaries.
Sridhara Ayyaval had previously served as the Diwan (Prime Minister) of the Karnataka Kingdom.
Renouncing his official position and material wealth, he settled down in Thiruvisanallur, a village situated on the banks of the River Cauvery in Tamil Nadu.
It was his daily custom to visit and worship Lord Maha Lingeswara (Lord Shiva) in the nearby town of Thiruvaidamarudur.
On the New Moon day of the month of Karthika—the specific Thithi (lunar day) marking the passing of his father—he instructed that the special Srardha (ancestral ritual) meal be prepared, and then proceeded to the River Cauvery for his ritual bath.
As he was returning home after his bath, he encountered a poor, elderly man approaching him from the opposite direction.
The old man pleaded with Sridhara Ayyaval, saying, “Swami, I am faint with hunger; please give me something to eat.”
Moved by compassion for the man, Sridhara Ayyaval brought him into his home.
At that moment, only the Srardha meal had been prepared and was ready to be served.
Seeing the poor man in a state of near-delirium from hunger, Ayyaval served him the Srardha food, thereby satisfying his hunger.
According to tradition, the Srardha meal is meant to be consumed exclusively by the Brahmins officiating the ritual & the family who prform the ritual. Any leftovers are strictly to be offered to a cow. This is the established custom. However, Sridhra Ayyaval had transgressed this rule.
Consequently, the Brahmins who had arrived to perform the Srardha were enraged;
They stormed out of the house in protest.
Furthermore, they declared:
“We will agree to perform the Srardha ritual for you only if you travel to Kasi (Varanasi), take a holy dip in the River Ganges, and return here after performing the necessary atonement.”
How, indeed, could one possibly travel all the way to distant Kasi, take a holy dip in the Ganges, and return to Thiruvisanallur—all within the span of a single day?
“What is this trial that has befallen me?”—pondering thus while meditating upon Sri Mahalingeshwara Swamy (Lord Shiva), he lay down with a heavy heart and, overcome by sheer exhaustion, drifted into sleep.
At that moment, Lord Shiva appeared in his dream, granting him a divine vision saying:
“We shall cause the holy River Ganges to flow into the well within your home. Do not be anxious!”—having given this assurance, the Lord vanished.
Thereupon, Sridhara Ayyaaval stood beside the well in his courtyard, and with a heart melting in devotion as he contemplated Mother Ganges, he sang the Gangashtaka, 8 verses on Ganga.
No sooner had he finished singing, then Mother Ganges manifested within the well.
The well overflowed, and the holy waters of Mother Ganges surged forth like a flood, flowing throughout the entire town of Thiruvisanallur.
Witnessing this miracle, the Brahmins sought Ayyaaval’s forgiveness and proceeded to take a holy dip in that well.
In commemoration of this event—which occurred some 300 years ago—thousands of devotees continue to flock here to this very day, traveling not only from across Tamil Nadu but from all corners of India to take a holy bath.
This is a great miracle by Lord Shiva to help His devotee in a typical situation!
(Glories of River Kaveri – Story! READ HERE!)