Thiru Athanoor Aandalakkum Aiyan

Thirumangai Azhwar performed mangalasaasanam at this temple which is also the 9th Divya desam. 

According to the Sthala Puraanam, Perumal was tired after completing His creation work and giving everybody their dues. So, He laid down with the Marakkapadi (measuring instrument) for support in one hand.  The other hand holds onto the Olachuvadi and Ezhuthaani (Manuscript and Pen) in the other. Perumal Himself performed Samashrenam for Adiseshan in this Sthalam. This is the only temple where Adiseshan has the Conch and Chakram.

One can also find a gigantic idol of yoga narasimhar in this temple. 

The temple is open from 7 am to 12.30 pm and from 4.30 pm to 7 pm.

Pullumboothankudi Valvil Rama Swamy

The name of the thayar is Hemabja Nayika and this temple is the 7th Divya desam. The town is located within 3 kms of Swamy Malai.

Ramar rested here after giving salvation to Jatayu. The moolavar sannidhi shows Rama in a lying position with Lakshmana, Brahma and Jatayu. 

Keezhachalai Devanar Thogai

Keezhachalai Devanar Thogai is a Divya Desam near Thirunaangur and the main deity is Perumal in standing position with Sridevi and Bhoodevi Thayar. There is a separate sannidhi for Madhava Nayaki Thayar.

Thirumangaimadam Veera Narasimhar

The presiding deity of the temple in Thirumangaimadam is Veera Narasimhar with Senkamalavalli Thayar. Thirumangai Azhwar and his wife Kumudavalli Thayar performed services here. This temple is also the Kula Deivam or Family Deity for Thirumangai Azhwar and the Ellai Devatha or Guardian Deity for the area. 

The temple is a Divya Desam and also one of the five Narasimhars (Pancha Narasimhar) around Thirunangur. It is open from 9 am - 11 am and from 5 pm - 7 pm.

Thiru Paarthanpalli Parthasarathy

The main deity of the temple in the town of Thiru Paarthanpalli is Parthasarathy with Sridevi and Bhoodevi. There is a separate sannidhi with Arjuna and Krishna . 

In this temple there is a tank which Arjuna created with his arrows to quench the thirst of a sage. This is also the place where Arjuna or Partha was a student and obtained Divya Asthras. Hence this place obtained its name Parthan Palli

Currently this temple which is also a Divya Desam is being expanded with funds collected from devotees and the kumbabhishekam is expected to happen in 2014.

Thirukavalampadi Rajagopalaswamy

The main deity of Thirukavalampadi town's temple is Rajagopalaswamy with Rukmini and Sathyabhama - similar to the famous temple in Mannargudi. This sthalam is a Divya Desam.

Thirukuraiyalur Ugra Narasimhar

The town of Thirukuraiyalur is the birthplace or avatara sthalam of Thirumangai Azhwar. The main deity of this temple is Ugra Narasimhar with his consorts ShreeDevi and Bhoodevi. The name of the Thayar is Amrithavalli Thayar. This temple is a Divya Desam and is also considered to be a Navagriha Parihaara Sthalam.

The Narasimhar in this temple is one of the five Narasimhas in and around Thirunangur.

Annadaanam during Ammavaasai or New Moon day in this sthalam is considered to be a parihaaram for Pitrukaryam (rites for forefathers) that was not performed. Offering prayers at this temple is believed to remove obstacles for marriage.

Thirunagari Kalyana Ranganathar

This temple is in Thirunagari town and also known as Thirumangai Azhwar temple. This temple along with the temple in Thiruvaali are together considered as one Divya Desam. 

The Thirumangai Azhwar in this temple has a Vel given by Thirugnana Sambandar. Praying to The Lord here in kalyana kolam ensures speedy marriage. Devotees offer Kalyana Nela Maalai for marriage.

The temple also has two Narasimhas - Yoga Narasimha and Hiranya Narasimha in the praharams or corridor of the temple. These two Narasimhas along with Ugra Narasimha in Thirukuraiyalur, Veera Narasimha in Thirumangai Madam and ThiruVaali Lakshmi Narasimha are the Pancha Narasimhas that Thiru Mangai Azhwar established in and around Thirunangur after seeing the Nava Narasimha in Ahobilam.

Thiruputkuzhi Vijayaraghava Perumal

This temple marks the place where Jatayu was given Moksha by Rama. The temple is located 8 kms from Kanchipuram towards Bengaluru on the Chennai-Bengaluru highway.

The name of the Perumal is Vijayaraghava Perumal. As Perumal is performing rites with his right hand, Sreedevi moves to the left of Perumal with her head slightly tilted whereas Bhoodevi who bears the heat is at the right of Perumal.

The name of the Thayar is Varuththa Payaru Mulaika Vaitha Maragadhavalli. On Amavasai, fried beans is offered as Neivedyam for Ambal and then tied to the stomach of ladies who are looking to get children. The women will then sleep overnight at the mandapam outside the Thayar sannidhi. If the beans sprout then the devotee can expect to become pregnant soon.

Divya Desams in Kanchipuram

This note is to provide information about visiting Divya Desams in Kanchipuram.

We started at  2:30 p.m from Chennai and reached Kanchipuram at 3:45 p.m (about 73 kms). The temples listed in Part 1 below were covered in one evening (4.30 p.m - 7.30 p.m). The temples in Part 2 were visited in the following morning (8 a.m - 11 a.m).

Part 1

• Varadaraja Perumal
• Ashtabhuja Perumal
• Yadothkari Perumal
• Azhagiya Singar
• Deepa Prakasar
• Ulagalanda Perumal

Part 2

• Kamakshi Amman Temple - Adi Varaha Perumal
• Pachchai Varna Perumal
• Pavazha Varna Perumal
• Ekambreswarar Temple -  Nila Thunda Perumal
• Pandava Dhoothar Perumal 
• Vaikunta Perumal: The temple has Perumal in Nindra, Amarndha and Saayndha kolams i.e, standing, sitting and lying positions. The Perumal in standing and lying posiitons can be seen only on Ekadasi.

Tiruputkuzhi - another Divya Desam, is about 8 kms from Kanchipuram on the Chennai - Bangalore Highway towards Bangalore. 

Kanchipuram Ulagalanda Perumal

This Temple is a unique in that there are 4 Divya Desams in this temple itself. 

The Ulagalanda Perumal Moolavar shows Perumal with one foot on Maha Bhali’s head and another in the air. Near the Moolavar sannidhi one can see the Perumal as Adisesha or Ooragathan. In the outer Praharam, one can find Neeragathan (Nindra Kolam) of Tiruneeragam, Karagathan (Amarndha Kolam on Adisesha) and Kaanavarna Perumal (in Nindra Kolam with Sri Devi and Bhoo Devi). The name of the Thayar is Aaranavalli Thayar.

The temple is open from 7.30 am to 12 pm and from 4 pm to 8 pm. 

Kanchipuram Azhagiya Singar

This temple is a Divya Desam (74th/108) and also known as Tiruvellukai. 

The name of the Moolavar is Azhagiya Singar or Yoga Narasimhar. He came to protect His devotees during the yagna that was performed by Lord Brahma and stayed back to protect all His devotees from Asuras. The name of the Thayar is Amrutavalli. The name of the lake is Kanaka/ Hema Saras. The Lord became Pratyaksha to Sage Brighu.

Kanchipuram Deepa Prakasar

This temple is a Divya Desam that is famous for the Moolavar and Utsavar of Vedanta Desika. The Sthalam is called Thirutanka and is in Little Kanchi. The name of the Moolavar is Deepa Prakasar and that of the Thayar is Maragathavalli. 

According to Sthala Puranam, Lord Bramha performed a yagna without His wife Goddess Saraswathi.  On knowing that, Goddess Saraswathi was enraged and in an attempt to disrupt the sacrifice, took away all the lights and the entire area was engulfed in darkness. When Lord Brahma prayed to Lord Vishnu for help, Perumal then came to the rescue as Deepa Prakasar or Vilakku Oli Perumal and returned light and brightness and to the area. The yagna then continued and then the murthi of Lord Varadaraja Perumal appeared.

Praying to the Deepa Prakasar Perumal by lighting lamps is said to safeguard the devotee from fire accidents, remove ailments of the eye etc.

The temple is open from 10 am to 11.30 am and from 6.30 pm to 7.30 pm. 

Kanchipuram Yadothkari Perumal

The temple is one of the 108 Divya Desams and is located in the lane opposite to the lane of Ashtabhuja Perumal temple in Kanchipuram. The name of the Thayar is Komalavalli Thayar. The Perumal is in the lying position on Adisesha.

According to Sthala Puranam, Brahma performed a yagna without His wife Saraswathi. On knowing that, Goddess Saraswathi was enraged and took the form of a rapidly flowing river - River Vegavathi in an attempt to wash away the yagna. However, Lord Vishnu came to the rescue of Brahma’s yagna and lay down in the path of the river - obstructing the flow of Vegavathi river. The river was unable to flow beyond the lying Perumal and disappeared into the earth. The Sthalam is hence called Thiruvekka. 

Thirumazhisai Azhwar sung praises of this deity so beautifully that the king who heard the verses wanted Thirumazhisai Azhwar to sing praises of the king too. Refusing to sing praises of anybody but the divine Lord, Thirumazhisai Azhwar decided to leave the town and asked the Yadothkari Perumal to also leave with him. Perumal left the town with Adisesha also along with Azhwar. When the king realized his mistake and pleaded with Thirumazhisai Azhwar to return, Perumal also returned but lay down in the reverse position. The head of Pallikonda Perumal is typically to the left when one enters the Garba Griham. However in this temple, the head of the Perumal is on the right. Since Perumal did what he was told to, He is called “Sonna Vannal Seidha Perumal” or “Yadokthakari”.

This is also the place where Poigai Azhwar is said to have taken Avatar.

Kanchipuram Ashtabhuja Perumal

Pushpavalli Thayar sametha Ashtabhuja Perumal is also known as Adikesava Perumal. The temple is the 75th Divya Desam.

The name of the Theertham is Gajendra Pushkarani. It is in this lake that the tale of Gajendra Moksham unfolded. Gajendra was an elephant who was attacked by a crocodile in a lake. The elephant called out to Perumal as Aadhimoolam for help, offering Him a lotus. Perumal came at once to Gajendra's rescue, killed the crocodile with his Chakra and granted Salvation to the elephant. Gajendra in his previous life was a king called Indradyumna. Indradyumna was cursed by Sage Agastya to take the form of an elephant. Similarly the crocodile was also a cursed Gandharva. The crocodile also obtained Salvation on being vanquished by Perumal.

The Ashtabhuja Perumal has Lotus, Sword, Arrow and Chakram in his right hands. The left hands bear Mace, Shield, Bow and Conch.

The temple is open from 6.30 am to 12 pm and from 4 pm to 8 pm.

Kanchipuram Varadaraja Perumal

The Moolavar of this temple is Devarajaswamy and the name of the Thayar is Perundevi Thayar. The roof of a Sannidhi has a Golden Lizard, a Silver Lizard, Sun and Moon. Touching the Lizards is supposed to help remove one’s sins and secure a place in Vaikuntam. The Utsavar Moorthi is placed in a Room of mirrors. There are also Sannidhis for Azhagiya Singar, Dhanvanthri and Malayala Nachiyar. This is the temple in which Saint Ramanujar was instructed to go to Tirukoshtiyur. This temple is one of the 108 Divya Desams.

According to Sthala Puranam, Lord Bramha performed a yagna without His wife Goddess Saraswathi.  On knowing that, Goddess Saraswathi was enraged and attempted to disrupt the sacrifice. When Lord Brahma prayed to Lord Vishnu for help, Perumal then came to the rescue. The yagna then continued and then the murthi of Lord Varadaraja Perumal appeared.

There is a story about the Golden Lizard and Silver Lizard in the temple. There were two disciples for sage Gouthama - Heman and Shuklan who once brought water for performing pooja in a pot without realising that there was a lizard in the pot. They were cursed to tun into lizards for their carelessness. When Heman and Shuklan prayed for forgiveness, they were told that they would be released from their curse when Indra came to offer prayers to Varadaraja Perumal. When Indra came to this sthalam to get relief from the curse of Goddess Saraswathi, Heman and Shuklan also were granted relief from their curses. 

Additional details can be accessed at www.kanchivaradarajartemple.com. Sarva darshanam is from 7 am to 11 am, from 12 pm to 12.30 pm and from 5 pm to 8.30 pm. Kattana Seva is from 11 am to 12 pm and from 3.30 pm to 5 pm. Kattana seva is at a nominal fee for devotees. The temple is currently seeking donation for renovating the temple. The temple is about 4 kms from Ulagalanda Perumal temple.

This temple is also supposed to be of special significance for Krittikai Nakshatra, Uthradam Nakshatra people.

In the Tamil month of Adi (month of July/ August), Ananthazhwar Sevai is conducted on Valarpirai Dasami and Theipirai Ekadasi. The significance of these two days is that Adiseshan (or Anantha Azhwar) is supposed to visit the temple for worshipping Varadaraja Perumal on these two days. So if we worship Perumal on these two days, we will get relief from Naga Dosha.

Madurai Koodal Azhagar

Ashtanga Vimanam

The Koodal Azhagar temple is at the heart of Madurai city - close to Meenakshi Sundareswarar temple. This temple is the 47th Divya Desam and is one of the three temples with Ashtanga Vimanam - the other two in Uthiramerur and Tirukoshtiyur.

Moolavar is called Koodalazhagar and Utsavar is Sundararaja Perumal. The name of the Thayar is Maduravalli Thayar. The Moolavar is in the Amarndha Kolam. There are two more Perumal murthis and they can be seen by climbing the stairs leading to the Vimanam. Surya Narayana Perumal is in the Nindra Kolam at the base of the Vimanam and Sheerapthi Perumal is in the Pallikonda position or Kidandha Kolam further up the Vimanam.

The Navagrihas in the temple are noticeably bigger in size. The temple is open from 6 am - 12 pm and from 5 pm - 9 pm.

Vimanam -  A closer look

Koodal Azhagar Gopuram

Tirukoshtiyur Sowmya Narayana Perumal

Location:

The town of Tirukoshtiyur is about 33 kms from Thirumayam near Pudokottai. The Soumya Narayana Perumal temple of Tirukoshtiyur is the first Divya Desam.

Temple:

In this temple, Perumal appears as Koothadiyan (as Nardhana Krishna in Bhooloka), Kidandhan ( as Pallikonda Bhoomi Neela Sametha Soumya Narayana in Devaloka), Nindran ( as Upendra Narayana in Indraloka) and Amarndhan ( as Paramapadanathan in Vaikunta). The last two Perumal Sannidhis can be accessed through the stairs leading all the way up to the Gopuram. The name of the Thayar in this Sthalam is Thiru Ma Magal Thayar.

There are also three forms of Narasimhar in this temple. He appears as Ugra Narasimha in the outer Praharam of the temple. The Ugra Narasimhar appears in the Yuddha pose (fighting with Hiranyakashipu) and Vadham (killing Hiranyakashipu) pose protecting Prahlada. Near the Dwajasthambam one can find Yoga Narasimhar. Lakshmi Narasimhar is at the base of the flight of stairs leading upto the Gopuram. Thus one can find Narasimhar with increasing levels of composure as one proceeds from the temple exterior to the Gopuram.

There are only three places where the Temple Gopura Vimanam is constructed as Ashtanga Vimana to match the Ashtakshara Mantra  - Uthiramerur, Koodalazhagar temple and Thirukoshtiyur. Among the three, Thirukoshtiyur temple's Vimanam has the special "Divya" taga and its Vimanam is Ashtanga Divya Vimanam. A statue of seated Saint Ramanujar can be found today near the Astanga Vimana from where He preached the Ashtakshara Mantra.

Sthala Puranam:

According to Sthala Purana, Brahma, Vishnu and Sivan met as a "Koshti" (group) in this place to discuss how Narasimha Avatar should take place. That is how the place got its name.

Saint Ramanuja learnt the Ashtakshara mantra for reaching Vaikunta - "Om Namo Narayanaya" from His Guru. The Guru had instructed Saint Ramanuja to keep the mantra a secret failing which, Saint Ramanuja would be severely punished. However, Saint Ramanuja immediately went to the Thirukoshtiyur temple gopuram and preached the mantra to everybody. His reasoning was that even if He - Saint Ramanuja,was punished, others who heard the mantra would reach Vaikunta.

The temple is open from 7.30 am - 12.30 pm and from 4.30 pm to 8 pm.

Tirukoshtiyur Temple Entrance

Thirumayam Perumal

Location:

The town of Thirumayam is about 69 kms from Trichy in the direction of Pudukottai. The Perumal temple over here is 40th of the 108 Divya Desams. The temple and the surrounding areas appear to be protected by the Archaelogical Society of India

Perumal Temple:

The main Sannidhi shows Vaikunta katchi engraved on the wall. Thirumeyyar Perumal is on Adisesha as Pallikonda Perumal -  much bigger than the Sriranga Perumal Himself. The Perumal is surrounded by Chitragupta, Dharmaraja, Brahma from His navel, Devas, Rishis and Asuras. Bhooma Devi is at the Lord's feet.

The name of the Thayar is Ujjeevana Thayar and is in a separate Sannidhi. Other Sannidhis include those of Chakrathazhwar, Lakshmi Narasimhar, Andal, Krishnar, Sathyamurthy Perumal, Garuda, Viswaksenar, Ramar and Anjaneyar.

The temple is open from 6.30 am - 12.30 pm and from 4.30 pm to 8.15 pm.

Thirumayam Perumal Temple Entrance

Woraiyur Nachiyar

Woraiyur is about 4 kms from Trichy. There are a few Perumal temples in this small town and the one we visited is locally referred to as the Nachiyar temple - also the second of 108 Divya Desam.

The main deities of this temple are Azhagiya Manavaala Perumal and Kamalavalli Nachiyaar. The Perumal is in the Nindran pose and in Kalyana Kolam with the Thayar in the same Sannidhi. The Perumal's chakram is in the ready-to-use position and hence there is no Utsava murthy for this Perumal.

People born in the stars Aayilyam, Kaettai and Moolam having difficulty in getting married can perform Archanai for the Thayar in this Sthalam as Pariharam. Couples are supposed to obtain marital happiness by praying to the Thayar in this temple. On Vaikunta Ekadasi, only the Utsava Murthy of the Thayar crosses the Swarga Vaasal. 

The temple timings are from 6.45 am - 12 pm and from 5 pm - 8 pm.