Thiru Devanaar Thogai (36/108)
|
Name |
Thiru Devanaar Thogai |
|
Vernacular Name |
Keezhai Chaalai |
|
District |
Nagapattinam |
|
State |
Tamil Nadu |
|
Mangalasasanam |
Thirumangai Azhwar |
|
Position |
Chozha Naadu (36/108) |
|
Presiding deity |
Vishnu |
|
God |
Deiva Nayakan |
|
Utsavar |
Madhava Perumal |
|
Goddess |
Kadal Magal Naatchiyaar Madhava Nayaki |
|
Vimanam |
Shobana Vimaanam |
|
Speciality |
One of the 11 Thiru Nangur Divya Desangal |
|
Theertham |
Shobana Pushkarani Devasabhaa Pushkarani |
|
Worshipped by |
The ninth Rudran – Kalakantan Sage Vashishtar |
|
Temple timings |
8AM to 11PM and 5PM to 7PM |
|
Contact details |
Will be updated |
LORE:
Why does the Sthalam go by the name of “Thiru Devanaar Thogai”?
The shrine is called as “Devanaar Thogai” which literally means “Congregation of Devas” – The 33 crores of Devas had come here in flocks (Thogai = Kootam) to have a darisanam of the wedding of Deiva Nayaka Perumal and Kadal Magal Naatchiyaar.
It is said that The Lord Deva Naadhan from Thiru Vahindrapuram (41/108) is said to have come as Lord Deiva Nayaka Perumal and The Lord Nithya Kalyana Perumal from Thiru Idavendhai (62/108) is said to have come as the Utsava Moorthy, Madhava Perumal in this shrine.
What is the lore of the temple?
The temple shares the common lore of all the 11 Thiru Nangur Shrines and Lord Deiva Nayaka Perumal is said to have manifested to quell the anger of one of the Ekadasha Rudras, who emanated from the locks of the grief-stricken Lord Shiva, who danced the Pralaya Thandavam upon knowing the untimely demise of his then wife, Devi Sati.
Lord Deiva Nayaka Perumal is pacifying the Rudra of the “Praana Peedam”, which is now a temple at a place called “Perunthottam – Atheeswaram”, presided by Lord Airavateshwarar and His Devi Athulya Gujaambal.
The details of the story are elaborated “here”
The celestial wedding that summoned the congregation of all the Demi-Gods:
Eons ago, due to the insolence of Indra Dev, he had incurred the wrath of Rishi Durvasa as he had insulted the offering given by the sage, who is known for his labile temperament. In his arrogance, he had unwittingly given the garland which had adorned Adhi Shakthi herself to his pachyderm, Airavatham. The foolhardy elephant, not realizing the sanctity of the garland, threw it on the ground and stomped it. As if waiting for something untoward like this to happen, Rishi Durvasa, cursed the entire cosmos for Indra Dev’s misdemeanour, that the whole world will be bereft of wealth and prosperity. The Devas thus became Shree Heen (impoverished) and Shakthi Heen (flaccid). Indra Dev soon realized his folly and pleaded for redemption. The Rishi told that the curse would be undone when Goddess Lakshmi is evoked from the abyss of Ksheer Sagar (the great white ocean – Thirupaarkadal).
Thus, began the daunting task of the Samudra Mandhan, the churning of the great milky white ocean. Mandhara Parvatham was asked to be the pestle. The king of serpents, Lord Shiva’s Shankarabaranam, Vasuki was deigned to be the rope to churn the pestle. The Devas took the tail end of the snake. The Asuras were also asked to take part in the Samudra Mandhan with the promise of a share in the wealth that was buried under the great ocean. The Asuras took over the head end of the snake.
The churning began and slowly the hidden treasures of the great white ocean manifested amidst the Devas and Asuras. Sequentially, the wealth of the ocean was shared between the two factions. The pestle got destabilized by the incessant churning and started to sink into the ocean. Lord Vishnu took the form of a giant turtle and lifted the sinking mountain on his back, to ensure that the churning continues uninterrupted.
The moon emerges from the ocean and joins the faction of the Devas as Chandra Dev. Then arrives Chandra Sahodhari, The Goddess of wealth and prosperity, Devi Maha Lakshmi. She chooses the preserver of the cosmos, Lord Vishnu as Her consort.
It is said that the wedding happened at Thiru Devanaar Thogai and was attended by all the Devas who came there in large groups.
What is the connection of Sage Vashishtar and this shrine?
In an alternate rendering of the tale, the wedding of Lord Vishnu and Devi Maha Lakshmi happens in heaven and Sage Vashishtar comes to know about it later. He too wants to see the wedding. He prays to the Lord who directs him to this Palasa Vanam and asks Sage Vashishtar to meditate there.
The Lord blesses Sage Vashishtar and tells him that He would come to Palasa Vanam to pacify the Ekadasha Rudras and there He will show his wedding darisanam as Lord Deiva Nayaka Perumal along with His Devi Kadal Magal Naatchiyaar.
What are the other specialities of the shrine?
- The main Gopuram is two tiered and is built in such a way that its shadow falls within itself.
- The Lord Deiva Nayakan faces the West, in the Standing posture, flanked on either side by Sri Devi and Bhu Devi.
- The Lord is facing the West and Thaayaar is facing the East, as it is the marriage tradition for the groom to face the West and the bride to face the East.
- Kadal Magal Naatchiyaar is housed in a separate shrine as Thani Kovil Naatchiyaar
- The temple has a graveyard in behind it, symbolising the unity of Shaivam and Vainavam. (The Graveyard is often associated with Lord Shiva)
- Lord Brahma is said to have conducted Yaagam at the Deva Gundam in this shrine.
- The river “Manni” flows adjacent to this shrine.
Our Experience:
We had visited this shrine thrice, and we were able to see The Lord Deiva Nayaka Perumal twice.
The first time we saw Him was on an exploratory visit to Thiru Nangur. the locals do not know the ancient name of Thiru Devanaar Thogai. The village is now known as “Keezha Chaalai”. It is the farthest and the most remote of the elven Thiru Nangur Divya Desangal and is quite easy to get misled. The temple is accessible from Thiru Vella Kulam (39/108) and the road leading to it is narrow and poorly maintained.
We missed seeing Him during our second visit to Thiru Nangur, which was during the Garuda Sevai. We had started late and by the time we reached Thiru Devanaar Thogai, the temple was closed as The Lord had already left to Thiru Mani Maada Kovil for the Garuda Sevai.
The third time was unique as we had undertaken the daunting task of completing all the 11 Thiru Nangur Divya Desangal in one evening (and we actually succeeded in visiting all of them because of the blessings of The Lord).
We started at Thiru Kaavalam Paadi (27/108) at 1748 Hrs and finally finished at Thiru Paarthan Palli (40/108) at 2028 Hrs, offering our prayers at all the 11 temples. We received the blessings of Lord Deiva Nayakan and His Devi, Kadal Magal Naatchiyaar and left with loads of endearing memories.
See you folks at the next temple in the Thiru Nangur Divya Desangal – Thiru Vella Kulam (39/108)
Loads of love,
Karthick and Rahul.