|
Name |
Thiruvaali |
|
Other Name |
Aalinganapuram |
|
District |
Nagapattinam |
|
State |
Tamil Nadu |
|
Mangalasasanam |
Thirumangai Azhwar Kulasekara Azhwar |
|
Position |
Chozha Naadu (35/108) |
|
Presiding deity |
Vishnu |
|
God |
Lakshmi Narasimhar |
|
Utsavar |
Thiruvaali Nagaraalan Azhagiya Singhar |
|
Goddess |
Poornavalli Thaayaar (Amrithavalli Naatchiyaar) |
|
Vimanam |
Ashtaakshara Vimaanam |
|
Speciality |
Thiruvaali and Thiru Nagari together are considered as a single Divya Desam One of the Pancha Narasimha Kshetrangal Birthplace of Poornavalli Thaayaar Closely associated with the Eleven Thiru Nangur Divya Desangal Vedupari Utsavam is also associated with this shrine |
|
Theertham |
Latchani Pushkarani |
|
Worshipped by |
Thirumangai Azhwar |
|
Temple timings |
7AM to 12PM and 4PM to 8PM |
|
Contact details |
LORE:
Why does the Sthalam go by the name of “Thiruvaali”?
“Thiru” stands for the Goddess of wealth, Devi Mahalakshmi, “Aali” is the abbreviated form of the word “Aalinganam” (Aalinganam – To hug)
Lord Lakshmi Narasimhar is seen hugging the Goddess Mahalakshmi, who is seated on His right lap. Hence the Sthalam is called as “Thiru Aali” (when the two words are unified, it is worded as “Thiruvaali” according to Tamizh Grammar)
What is the lore of the temple?
Lord Narasimha was the fourth incarnation of Lord Vishnu. He assumed the fierce Avatar to destroy Hiranyakashipu and to save His devotee, Bhaktha Prahaladhan. His rage was so fulminant that even after killing the vile demon king,
Lord Narasimha’s anger did not abate. His ferocity was frightening, and the entire cosmos trembled in dreadful trepidation.
To save the world from annihilation and to pacify Lord Narasimha, Devi Mahalakshmi decided to intervene. She went and sat on the lap of the raging Lord Narasimha and the moment The Lord felt the presence of His consort, His wrath and resentment, vanished and he became tranquil.
It is said that this shrine was the place where Devi Lakshmi did this feat and since Lord Narasimha is eternally hugging Her, the shrine came to be known as “Thiru Aali”
Thirumangai Azhwaar – The Scintillating Sensation
Thirumangai Azhwaar is called as “Aali Naadan” as he ruled the hamlets surrounding this shrine, and our tale about the most sensational devotee of The Lord begins at Thiru Vella Kulam (39/108). Neelan was born as the son of a war-chieftain in Thiru Kurayalur (One of the Pancha Narasimha Kshetrangal).
Kumudhavalli was one of the divine damsels who used to come from Devalok to this shrine to pluck “Kumudham” flowers (White Lilly) in the Swetha Pushkarani at Thiru Vellakulam (39/108) for their prayers and leave back. They used to do this in secrecy. One fine day, Kumudhavalli Naatchiyaar takes a little longer to pluck the flowers. The rest of the Apsaras leave. Just when Kumudhavalli is about to depart for Devalok, she is seen by a mortal man. Because of this, she loses her ability to ascend to Devalok and is destined to stay back at Thiru Vella Kulam. A physician adopts her as his daughter and she lives in this Shrine, in prayers.
Neelan (who eventually becomes Thirumangai Azhwar), the war-chief of the Chozha king, happens to see her during one of his escapades and falls instantly in love. He expresses his desire to marry Kumudhavalli to her adopted father. The physician requests him to ask his daughters consent.
Kumudhavalli consents but places a condition. She says that she will marry him only if he is able to feed (Anna Dhaanam) 1000 Devotees per day for one full year and tells him that she will marry only a Vaishnavaite. Thus, it is at Thiru Vella Kulam the love-saga of Neelan and Kumudhavalli kickstart.
Neelan agrees to the condition and travels to Thiru Naraiyur (14/108) and prays to Lord Naraiyur Nambi to accept him as a Vaishnavaite. The Lord concedes to his request and does “Mudhra Dhanam” – the act of imprinting The conch and the Chakra symbols on the two arms of a disciple done by a guru, which marks the acceptance of the disciple as a true Vaishnavaite. The Lord Naraiyur Nambi, to this date, stands with tow hands holding His Panjanayanyam Conch and His Sudarshanaa Chakram in the position of Mudhra Dhanam as a testimony to having imprinted and accepted Neelan.
Neelan, now an ardent Vaishnavaite, returns home and starts feeding 1000 people per day, at the nearby village called “Mangai Madam”. A year rolls by and finally Kumudhavalli gets married to Neelan with much fanfare.
Neelan is so habituated to the joy of feeding 1000 people per day and desires to continue it. But soon his resources dry up and he is on the verge of becoming penniless and consequently unable to continue his dharma.
He refuses to pay the tax to the Chozha king. He is then taken as a prisoner and jailed. Lord Varadharajan of Kanchipuram appears in his dream and tells him a way to settle his debts and calls him to Kanchipuram. The Lord guides Neelan to a treasure hidden on the banks of the river Vedhavathi. He settles the debt owed to the Chozha king and resumes his daily routine of feeding 1000 people.
Soon his resources get exhausted and he resorts to burglary to acquire money from the rich to continue his seva. He becomes a notorious brigand. He had 4 trusted henchmen to help him with his nefarious pilferage.
- Neeril Nadappaan – the one who walks on water
- Nizhalil odhunguvaan – The one who lurks in the shadows
- Thaazh Oodhuvaan – The Blower of Locks
- Tholaa Vazhakkan – The Vanquisher of disputes
He then raids those who have amassed wealth and uses the money to continue his daily ritual of feeding 1000 devotees at Mangai Madam.
Devi Mahalakshmi observed all these happening and became keen on blessing Neelan (Thirumangai Azhwaar) and requested Her Lord to concede. The Lord then revealed His desire to intercept Neelan and to reform him.
Meanwhile, Sage Poorna was meditating in Thiruvaali seeking the blessing of becoming a parent. The Goddess herself was born as Amrithavalli to the pious Sage Poorna. (She is also referred to as Poornavalli, the Daughter of Sage Poorna)
When She reached marriageable age, She was betrothed to Lord Vayalali Manavaalan of Thiru Nagari. The marriage happened in Thiruvaali and the couple were travelling back to Thiru Nagari, in a palanquin. The news of the grand wedding and the riches of the groom and bride were conveyed to Neelan by his trusted henchmen
Around midnight the palanquin carrying the newlyweds, reached the placed called “Thirumanangollai” (Vedharajapuram). Neelan comes on his majestic steed named “Aadal Maa Puravi” and scares everyone carrying the palanquin and the co-travellers away.
He then forces the newlywed couple out of the palanquin and asks them to surrender all their riches. Vayalaali Manavaalan and Amrithavalli duly comply. He bundles up all the jewels and then notices a toe-ring on the right foot of the groom. He demands that too. The groom replies that He is unable to remove it. Neelan then removes it using all his force and adds it to the other stolen goods. He tries to carry the bundle of riches, but is unable to even move it an inch, let alone lift it.
He then accuses the groom of sorcery and asks Vayalaali Manavaalan to reveal the mantra He has used to make the bundle of riches so heavy. The Lord smirks and then agrees to tell Neelan the Mantra.
Under the Peepal tree, The Lord Vayalaali Manavaalan gives the Mantra-Upadesam of the Ashtakshara Mantra to Neelan and the moment the words “Om Namo Narayanaya” reach his ears, the karma of Neelan melt and He realises the true purpose of his life. He sings in praise of the Lord and relinquishes his ways of larceny and pilferage.
He becomes Thirumangai Azhwaar.
(To this date, the events of the wedding at Thiruvaali and the divine interception at Vedharajapuram are celebrated annually on Panguni Uthiram (March-April) as “Vedupari Utsavam”)
Thirumangai Azhwar then embarks on a pilgrimage visiting innumerable temples across the length and breath of the nation. He finally retires at Thiru Kurungudi (79/108) at Thiru Mangai Azhwar Thiruvarasu and attains Salvation there.
Thirumangai Azhwar is the most prolific composer of the 12 azhwaars and more than one-fourth of the Naalayira Divya Prabandham are his verses. He is also called as “Narkavi Perumal” for his literary brilliance. He is considered as the Kali Yuga Avatar of “Sharanga”, The celestial bow of Lord Vishnu.
His interaction with Thiru Gnana Sambandhar and their cameraderie is very dramatic and is related to the shrine of Kaazhi Cheerama Vinnagaram (28/108). Click “here” for that interesting tale.
What are the other specialities of the shrine?
- One of the five Pancha Narasimha Kshetrangal
- The Goddess is seated on the right lap of The Lord unlike the more conventional left side
- There is no separate shrine for Thaayaar. (No Thani Kovil Naatchiyaar)
What are the Pancha Narasimha Kshetrangal?
- Ugra Narasimhar – Thiru Kurayalur
- Veera Narasimhar – Mangai Madam
- Lakshmi Narasimhar – Thiruvaali
- Hiranya Narasimhar – Thiru Nagari
- Yoga Narasimhar – Thiru Nagari
Our Experience:
This was one of the temples which we had visited when we had no idea about the Thiru Nangur Divya Desangal or their lore. We went from Devanaar Thogai (36/108) to Thiruvaali (35A/108) and made it around 11.30AM. It is a small but well-maintained shrine.
We had an amazing darisanam of The Lord Lakshmi Narasimhar and His Devi, seated on His right Lap. We quickly went around the temple and then headed out to Thiru Nagari, the very-closely-related temple to this shrine.
We came to know about the Vedupari Utsavam which happens on Panguni Uthiram and were planning to make it to the festival. But due to the COVID-19 lockdown we had to skip it in 2020.
We pray that we will be able to attend the festival and chronicle the event in the next year 2021.
With that note, we will catch you in the next shrine, which marks the end of the Thiru Nangur Travelogue – Thiru Nagari (35B/108)
Loads of love,
Karthick and Rahul.