Description : This Divyadesam is located in
Tirunaraiyur, close to the Naraiyur Sidheeswaram
Paadal petra stalam. This shrine was sung by Tirumangai Alwar, who refers to
Vishnu, Srinivasa at Naraiyur Ninra Nambi. Tirunaraiyur is also known as Sugandhavanam or
Sugandhagiri or as Srinivasakshetram. Also located at Tirunaraiyur is Nandipura Vinnagaram, or Naathan Koyil. It
is believed that that the Chola King Ko Chenkannan who built 70 madakkoyils (temples at an
elevation) to Shiva, worshipped Vishnu here before he started off on battles with the
Cheras and the Pandyas. Naachiyaar or Taayaar gets the place of primary importance in this
shrine, as implied by the name Naachiyaar Koyil.
Deities: The Moolavar here is Tirunaraiyur Nambi, also
known as Sreenivasar or Vasudevar, depicted in the Kalyanakkolam with Vanchulavalli
Taayaar (Nambikkai Naachiyaar) in the sanctum.
Legend has it, that Lakshmi was born as Vanchulavalli,
(at the foot of a Vanchula tree) to Madhava munivar (also known as Medhavi Munivar).
Vishnu came down to the earth and married her here. Bhrama is believed to have worshipped
Vishnu here. Vishnu is believed to have manifested himself in the Pancha Vyuha forms and
married Vanchulavalli; Sankarshana in the east, Pradyumna in the south, Anirudha in the
west, Purushottama in the north and Vasudeva in the center. The sculptures of all these
deities are found in the garbagriha..
The temple: This temple has five prakarams with mandapams
with artistically carved pillars. The garbagriha here is known as the Sreenivasa Vimanam.
There is no separate shrine for Vanchulavalli here. It is also believed that there was a
shrine to Bhuvarahaperumaal even prior to this legend. There is a separate shrine to the
Kal Garudan (see festivals). There are slso shrines to Yoga Narasimhar, Veera Hanuman,
Ramar and Chkrapani. The earliest inscription found here is that of the 13th century,
although this temple was in existence during the time of Tirumangai Alwar.
Festivals: The Margazhi Bhrammotsavam (Mukkoti Utsavam)
is of great significance here, especially the KalGaruda Vaahana Sevai,
where the festival image of Sreenivasar is taken out on a stone Garuda mount. The mount is
said to grow exponentially in weight as it is carried out of its sanctum. During this
festival, Naachiyar leads the procession on a Hamsa Vaahanam. The Tirukkalyanam is
celebrated in the month of Aavani. The Pankuni Bhramotsavam, Vasantotsavam and Krishna
Jayanthi are other festivals celebrated here. |
