The Story of "Thaumanavar" - Story of shiva
There was family who were shiva devotees. The girl got married to an orphan and he too was a shiva devotee completely. They were living in a village in kerala
It so happend that, that the girl was due for her delivery. And her mother was to come to help her from the near by village and they had to cross a river to reach her. When teh date came for her mother to travel, she and her assitant left for hte same and heavy rains came. They could not cross teh river as it was flooding and so rhty ended up staynig at the banks of the river as they could not go back also. and rains were very very bad. Mother kept taking hte name of shiva and praying for her daugther. they ended up at htat place for more than 2-3 days.
HEre at the daughter's place she was tensed as her due date was nearing and no one to help her. And that night, she got her pain. Since it was raining and her husband came late, and the min he came he was abt to go call for help. Throughout the girl was telling namashivaya and shouting in pain. The husband was abt to leave, when te door knocked. And since they were expecting her mother, they thgt she has come and opend the door, her mother was standing there. The girl was relived. And hte deliver took place and she had a nice boy baby. And the mother was there to hlpe her.
After 3 days, when the husband was abt to leave for work in the morning, the MIL came in front of him crossed him and went inside the puja room. And teh same time, he was stunend to see his MIL standing at the front door with her assistant. She cmae inside running and worried abt her daughter. And asked her SIL how her daughter was and had she deliverd! Both the girl and the SIL were speechless. The mohter said, since there was heavy rains and floods, they could not cross teh river and ended up in that place for 3 days and could not come on time.
That min the sil went inside searching for the lady who was here all these days as his MIL and who helped with teh delivery. They narrate the same to her mother. she was also schoked. She said she is coming now only and who could have come in her place? that time they hear a voice .. Shiva talking to them.. telling since the girl was a devotee of his nad was taking his nmae at the time of pain, he came in form of her mother and helped her "Thaum ana var" (Split and read .. became the mother is the meaning). So its said, if at the time of delivery we keep saying "Thaumanavar" or namashivaya he will help us.