KAILASA

INDRA, THE GOD OF HEAVEN ABSOLVED OF HIS SINS
During the Kretha Yuga, Devendran or Indra, the Lord of Heaven was engrossed in sensual delights of song, dance and dalliance with women in his paradise. Because of these engagements, he failed to respect Brahaspati, the Devaguru (the Spiritual Master of Gods). This neglect for his spiritual master, who is revered as much greater than God in Vedic Tradition by the disciple, resulted in the Devaguru’s departure from the place. As a consequence of disrespecting the Master, the prosperity dwindled and famine threatened.

Indra could not find his Guru Brahaspati. He went to Brahma Deva, the Lord of Creation (one of the Holy Divine Trinities) who advised him to adopt Viswaroopan, son of the Asura Guru Thuvatta (the master of demons, the unconscious negative energies). Indra requested Viswaroopan to perform a sacrifice (yaga) for his sake.
What Vishwaroopan uttered and what he willed inwardly were different. The utterance was voiced as “Let the Devas Prosper;” but inwardly his intended desire was Asuras, the negative beings to prosper and Devas, the divine beings to famish. Indra sensed this through his divine intuition. So he clipped three of Viswaroopan’s heads which became the birds ‘Kadai’, ‘Kuruvi’, , ‘Sichili’ and flew off. This is a heinous act and a sin (brahmahatti) to be expiated.
The Devas are said to have freed him from the sin by distributing it over trees, soil, water, and women. The news of the killing of Viswaroopan reached his father. He was seized with uncontrollable fury. He performed a yaga (fire sacrifice) and created a huge heartless monster ‘Vridhrasura’ from the yaga. Guru Thuvattu commanded him to kill Indra. Indra was defeated in the battle.

Indra kills Vridhasura with Sage Agastya’s help

Later, Indra acquired the weapon called ‘Vajra Astra’ as powerful as a thunderbolt, created from the backbone given by Sage Dadeechi, who was once blessed by Lord Shiva that his bones will be most powerful having the strength of thunderbolts. Sage Dadeechi easily sacrificed his life for the welfare of the world. hereby the Brahmahatti, the sin of Brahmana’s life was doubled; and in consequence of its burden, Indra later concealed himself in a lotus flower.
Indra went to war with Vridhrasura who hid in the sea as though performing penance.
Because the demon Vridhasura had taken refuge in the cosmic ocean, it became difficult for Indra Deva to bring him out and vanquish him. Then he sought the help of the great ‘Satpa Rishi’, one of the 7 Great Enlightened Sages, Sage Agasyta, who drank the entire ocean water and held it within him, until the demons were destroyed. Such is Sage Agastya’s power.
Vridhrasura was exposed and was beheaded, and his blood filled the ocean. Again, Indra was seized by a sin of Brahmahatti, killing Vriddhasura who belonged to the vedic clan of Brahmana, considered the highest spiritual community.

Absolving of Sins by worshiping Lord Shiva at Madurai

A council was held with Brahaspati, Agastiyar, and other sages, it was recommended that for the removal of his sin Indra should go down to earth, visit the sacred places, and bathe in the rivers. He came to earth and went on pilgrimage to sacred places – Thirukadavoor, Kaasi, Kanchi. But his sins did not find any relief till he came to Shiva’s very own land, reaching Kadamba forest (Kadambavanam) i.e. Madurai.
At the dense Kadamba forest Indra discovered the Swayambhu (self-manifested) Adi Sivalinga, Chokkanathar, the direct manifestation of Lord Shiva near a pond, which he named as Porramarai (golden lotus). Even today this original Chokkanathar lingam is present and worshiped at Madurai Aadheenam.
Finding his sins immediately absolved he joyfully offered puja to Shiva Linga, his joy so great that his speech became confused. As it was a forest, there were no flowers with which to make garlands; but on looking he saw a tank with lotus flowers of which he made garlands and from this use of its flowers the tank obtained the name of Pottamarai or the Golden lotus.
He constructed a dome for this sacred Shiva Lingam and worshiped Lord Somasundarar, Shiva ecstatically and was released from the sins. Just a simple and sincere worship to Lord Shiva purified Indra for Mahadeva is the embodiment of compassion, and the ultimate super conscious energy of Existence who destroys all sins and grants liberation to any being.
Then he returned to heaven with Indrani, wife of Indra and ruled thereafter. Thus worshiping the Lord of all Lords, Lord Somasundaram at Madurai, he was absolved of all his sins and gained the protection from Mahadeva.
Glossary
Indra – Indra or Devendra is the King of the gods or Devas and Lord of Heaven, ‘Swargaloka’. He is also the God of War, Storms, and Rainfall.  Indra is also called Śakra frequently in the Vedas and in Buddhism (Sakka). Indra is one of the chief deities in the RigVeda. He is celebrated as a demiurge who pushes up the sky, releases dawn (Ushas) from the Vala cave, and slays demons both latter actions are central to the Soma sacrifice.
Asura – Power-seeking mighty beings generally endowed with unconscious materialistic attributes. In the greatest vedic texts, Bhagavad Gita, Lord Krishna describes Asuric qualities are pride, arrogance, conceit, anger, harshness, and ignorance (Asuri Sampad) and the beings endowed with divine attributes are the “Devas” or “Sura” (Gods or Deities).
Agastya – One of the 7 Sages, the great Enlightened Masters, who are extolled at many places in the Vedas and a revered Vedic Sage who is also the author of Agastya Samhita. He finds an important place among the Rishis, munis, and the Siddhars. Agastya is said to have created the sacred Tamil language on instructions from Lord Skanda, son of Mahadeva, Shiva Himself. He drew up the first grammer rules for Tamil. He was involved in the First Tamil Sangam. The grammer works by him were named after him as ‘SiRRagaththiyam’ and ‘PEragaththiyam’.