| Description: This
Divyadesam is located 11 km south west of Sirkazhi
and is one of the 11 Divya Desam shrines associated with Tirunangur. Perumaal here is
considered equivalent to Venkatesaperumaal at Tirupati
and this shrine is also known as Tentirupati. Deities: The Moolavar
here is Srinivasan, also known as Kannan, Narayanan, Annan Perumaal - in a standing
posture facing east; Taayaar here is known as Alarmelmangai, and here Utsavar is
Padmavati. This east facing temple has a single prakaram with a 3 tiered rajagopuram. The
temple tank sweta puskharini is located across from the temple. There are shrines to
Kumudavalli Nachiyaar, Nammalwar and Manavaala maamuni.
Legends: A prince by name Swetan (son of the Suryavamsa King
Dundumaaran) was saved from the clutches of death at the age of 9, upon having meditated
upon the Mrityunjaya mantram, under a vilvamaram, on the banks of the Swetapushkarini (in
a legend similar to that of Markandeya). Interestingly this legend is very similar to the
one held at Tiruvenkadu
(Swetaranyam) nearby where the sage Swetaketu was saved from the clutches of death by the
grace of Shiva.
Kumudavalli Naachiyaar, a pious and firm devotee, and wife of Tirumangaialwar was
discovered here. There is a shrine to her here.
The Tirunaangur Divya Desams: This is one of the 11 Tirunaangur Divya Desams in the vicinity of
Sirkazhi, glorified by the hymns of - and closely associated with Tirumangaialwar,
whose birthplace Tirunagari,
is located nearby. 11 Divya Desams in the vicinity of Sirkazhi, Tiruvaali and Tirunagari
(the birthplace of Tirumangaialwar) are associated closely with Tirumangaialwar. Legend
has it that Shiva performed the Ekadasa Rudra Aswamedha Yagam, to rid himself of the
blemish of Bhramahatti; Vishnu is believed to have appeared in his presence with Sree
Devi, Bhu Devi and Nila Devi at the end of the sacrifice, and upon Shiva's request, taken
up 11 abodes here in the Tirunangur area, which correspond to the 11 Tirunaangur Divya
Desams held in worship by Rudra.
Only Tirumangaialwar has sung of these 11 Divya Desams. The Tirunaangur Divya
Desam shrines are Kavalampaadi, Tiruvanpurushottamam, Arimeya
Vinnagaram, Chemponseikoyil, Manimaadakkoyil (Narayanan), Vaikuntha
Vinnagaram, Tirudevanaar Togai,
Tiruttetriambalam, Manikkootam,
Tiruvellakkulam, and Parthanpalli.
Festivals: The annual Bhrahmotsavam is celebrated in the tamil month
of Purattaasi. The Tirumangaialwar Mangalasasana utsavam in the month of Thai (after the
new moon night) witnesses Garudasevai - a spectacular event in which festival images of
Perumaal from the 11 (Tirunaangur) Divya Desam shrines in the area are brought on
Garuda mounts to Tirunangur. An image of Tirumangai Alwar is brought to Tirunaangur
on a Hamsa Vahanam (from Tirunagari) and the his paasurams (verses) dedicated to
each of these 11 Divya Desams are recited. The image of Tirumangaialwar circumambulates
each of these deities, and at the conclusion of the festival, the images are returned to
their temples. Prior to this, the image of Tirumangaialwar and his consort are taken in a
palanquin to each of the 11 Tirunangur Divya Desams, (trampling) through the paddy
fields in the area, and the paasurams dedicated to each of the 11 Divya Desams are chanted
in the respective shrines. The Ekadasa Garuda Sevai is the most important festivals in
this area, and it draws thousands of visitors. |
