|
Name |
Thiru Nagari |
|
District |
Nagapattinam |
|
State |
Tamil Nadu |
|
Mangalasasanam |
Thirumangai Azhwar Kulasekara Azhwar |
|
Position |
Chozha Naadu (35/108) |
|
Presiding deity |
Vishnu |
|
God |
Vedharajan Vayalali Manavaalan |
|
Utsavar |
Kalyana Ranganathan |
|
Goddess |
Amrithavalli Naatchiyaar |
|
Vimanam |
Ashtaakshara Vimaanam |
|
Speciality |
Thiru Nagari and Thiruvaali together are considered as a single Divya Desam Two of the Narasimha Moorthy’s of the Pancha Narasimha Kshetrangal are in the temple complex of Thiru Nagari The Lord is seated as Ranganathar in the wedding attire on top of wheat sacks as is the tradition during marriage Closely associated with the Eleven Thiru Nangur Divya Desangal Vedupari Utsavam is also associated with this shrine The incredible Moorthy of Thirumangai Azhwar, the spear given to him by Thiru Gnana Sambandhar, the Motif of Sri Ramanuja at the base of the Moorthy, the Needila Muttram and the twin Dwaja Sthambams (Flag-post) |
|
Theertham |
Latchani Pushkarani |
|
Worshipped by |
Karthama Prjapathy Thirumangai Azhwar |
|
Temple timings |
7AM to 12PM and 4PM to 8PM |
|
Contact details |
LORE:
What is the lore of the temple?
Karthama Prajapathi was the son of Lord Brahma and he desired the darisanam of Lord Vishnu and wanted to attain salvation. The Lord was playful with His devotee and delayed from giving him darisanam. This irked Devi Mahalakshmi and she left Vaikundam and came to Thiru Nagari (35B/108) and hid herself in one of the Lilly flowers in the pond. The Lord came in search of Her. As all the Lilly flowers were closed, he could not find out the flower which Devi had chosen to hide. He then closed His right eye (which symbolises The Sun) and opened His left eye (Which symbolises the moon). Being exposed to the moonlight, all the Lilly flowers bloomed open, but Devi refused to budge in anger and her flower alone remained closed. The Lord then went to that flower and scooped Devi out and hugged her.
He also told Her that Karthama Prajapathi will be blessed in Kali Yug and that Devi will be instrumental in guiding him to the path of salvation.
Karthama Prajapathi was born in Treta Yug as King Uparisharavasu and was flying across this region in this Pushpaka Vimanam. The chariot stopped flying once it reached Thiru Nagari (35B/108). The king realised the sanctity of the shrine and prayed to The Lord at this shrine for salvation.
The Lord told him that his salvation will be given in due time. The King was then born in Dwapara Yugam as “Sangabaalan”, the son of a royal minister. Reminiscent of his previous birth, he too journeyed to Thiru Nagari (35B/108) and prayed to the Lord for salvation.
The Lord then revealed to him the purpose of his life and blessed him that he will attain moksha in Kali Yug, where he will be born as Neelan, the son of a war-chieftain. Neelan eventually becomes Thirumangai Azhwar and after doing his irreplaceable Seva to The Lord, finally attains Moksha at Thiru Kurungudi (79/108)
Thirumangai Azhwaar – The Scintillating Sensation
Thirumangai Azhwaar, whose birthname was “Neelan” was called as “Aali Naadan” as he ruled the hamlets surrounding this shrine. Neelan was born as the son of a war-chieftain in Thiru Kurayalur (One of the Pancha Narasimha Kshetrangal).
But, our tale about the most sensational devotee of The Lord begins at Thiru Vella Kulam (39/108). 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 (39/108) 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 Vaishnavite, 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 Azhwaar 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 Azhwaar Thiruvarasu and attains Salvation there.
Thirumangai Azhwaar 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?
- Two of the five Narasimha Moorthy’s of the Pancha Narasimha Kshetrangal are in the temple complex of Thiru Nagari
- There is a separate shrine for Thirumangai Azhwaar, a statue which was consecrated by himself at Thiru Kurungudi (79/108) and was later brought here
- The Idol of Thirumangai Azhwar still carries the spear (Vel) which was given to him as a token of respect and admiration, by Thiru Gnana Sambandhar after their interesting cameraderie at Thiru Kaazhi Cheerama Vinnagaram (28/108)
- The idol of Thiru Mangai Azhwar also has a miniature Ramanuja motif at the base
- Thiru Mangai Azhwar always carried a Moorthy of The Lord which he called as “Sindhanaikku Iniyaan”. There is a garden which goes by the same name (Sindhanaikku Iniyaan Nandhavanam) in the temple complex, which was dedicated to the Pooja of This Moorthy
- The hall in front of Thirumangai Azhwar is called as “Needila Muttram”
- There are two Dwaja Sthambams (Flag posts- Kodi maram) in the temple, one for Kalyana Ranganathar and one for Thirumangai Azhwar.
- The Lord Kalyana Ranganathar is seated on top of wheat sacs, as is the tradition during marriage.
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:
We had visited this temple twice during our journeys.
The first time when we had no idea about the Thiru Nangur Divya desangal or their lore. We went from Thiruvaali (35A/108) and made it around 11.55 AM.
It is the largest temple complex in the region even surpassing Thiru Mani Maada Kovil (32/108) by a three-fold. We were running inside the temple to try to get a glimpse of the Lord before His afternoon respite.
We were just on time and the priest was benevolent to show an amazing darisanam of The Lord Kalyana Ranganathan. We then made our way around the temple. We had an amazing darisanam of Thiru Mangai Azhwar along with his famed Spear. We also had a nice darisanam of Lord Hiranya Narasimhar on the upper storey of the left wall of the shrine. A little further, Lord Yoga Narasimhar is seated in a separate shrine in the wall directly behind the main deity, Lord Kalyana Ranganathar. We then had the darisanam of Goddess Amrithavalli Naatchiyaar, who is housed in a separate shrine.
The second time we went to the temple was after the eleven Garuda sevai, so we were more aware of the lore of the shrine and could truly admire its marvel.
We also 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, Thiru Kaazhi Cheerama Vinnagaram (28/108) which is in close proximity to the Thiru Nangur Divya Desangal and is associated with the interesting chapter of the interaction between Thiru Mangai Azhwar and Thiru Gnana Sambandhar.
Loads of love,
Karthick and Rahul.