Thiruindhalur – Ramanisblog

Indhu means the moon.

As Lord Visnu received Chandra (Moon) from his curse, this place is known as Indhaloor.

Lord Narayana gave dharsan as Vennchudar perumal in the standing posture to the Moon god in Thalaisangaadu.

But here at this place he is in Veera Sayanam posture.There he was full of light being as Vyomajyothi piran.

But here he is full of fragrance (Parimalam) and hence he is called as Parimala Rangan.

He has 4 hands here. River Cauvery is under his feet here.

As he promised river Cauvery to increase here status, he made her as his bed at Srirangam, took her as his mother at Thirucherai and here at Thiru Indhaloor, he has taken river Cauvery above his head.

Thus gave her the status of river Ganges who is on the head of Lord Shiva.
As the perumal of this place, converted the position of river Cauvery and Lord Chandra into a pious state, Thirumangaialwar calls him as a Brahmin.

The vedas were created to instruct rules for human beings to lead a happy life.

The Surya and Chandra revolve around the world to give prisperity (like wheels ie Chakra).

Hence the vimaana of this place is called as Veda Chakra Vimaanam. Sri Rangam is known as Aadhi Arangam (first) while Thirukudanthai is Madhiya Arangam (Middle) and Thiru Indhaloor is known as Andiya Arangam (Last).
Recovery of Vedas
From the puranas we learn that Brahma, Chandra, Yama, Ambareesha and Viswamitra were offering their daily workship here. Brahma was tutored to do his creation by Lord Ranganatha. But the two demons Madhu and Kaitaba, stole away the Vedas and disappeared into the sea. Brahma complained to the Lord who took Mastyavathar- fishform and retrived the Vedas.

In order to restore the original fragrance to them, the Vedas did penance to the Lord and the place was converted into “Sugantharanyam”. The Lord took his abode there and He came to be known as Parimala Ranganathar.

The Goddess came to be known as Parimala Ranganayaki.
The river cauvery, in order to get supremacy over river Ganga, offered penance to Lord Ranganatha here and was granted a boon.

Just like Srirangam and Kumbakonam, this place also became famous.

The Ganga is said to flow into the Cauvery during the Tula festival to rid herself of her pollution which she takes over from the people who take their bath in the river.

Hence the Cauvery here a bath in equals a bath in the Ganga.
Another interesting episode is connected with the life of Chandra the Moon.

He was suffering from consumption because of the sabams given by Dwajapathy and Dhatchan and was losing his form slowly

He was asked to take his bath here in the cauvery and offer worship to Lord Ranganatha.

He was eventually cured of his disease and the place came to be known as Indupuri and the Theertham Indu pushkarani.

In the Tamil month of Aiypasi on all the 30 days, the deity is taken to the banks of the river.

On the first day of the month and Amavasai, Lord Ranganatha comes on Garuda Vahana.
There are three prakarams in the temple. The little image of Kannan familiarly known as Santhanagopalakrishnan promises children for the issuless.

The plates that adorn the walls of the sannidhi have intricate workmanship on them.
Viswaksena, Yoga Narasimhar and Chandra have Moolavigrahams. In the shrine dedicated to Sri Rama one can see the stone as well as bronze images of Rama, Lakshmana, Sita, Hanuman and small idols of Bharatha and Satrugna.

Thirumangai Azhwar has sung in praise of the Lord here.

Following in his footsteps Sri T.Narasimhachariar composed the “Indalur Erratai Mani Malai”.
History
The temple dedicated to Lord Parimala Ranganatha at Tiruindalur, Mayiladuturai.

This temple is one of the Pancha Rangams, the others being Srirangapattinam, Srirangam, Adirangam (Koiladi) and Kumbakonam.

The idol which was hitherto believed to be made of brick and mortar for over many centuries was found to be made of a single beautiful green stone of granite measuring 12 feet by 5.5 feet with intricate workmanship in minute detail on the jewels, the kireetam, peethambaram.

One sees even the nails in the hands and feet sharp and in lovely shape.

The Seshasayanam, the five-headed serpant, has been fixed separately, over the head of the deity and it has also been made of stone. Brahma is seen near the wall in a line with the nabhi-naval and at the feet is seen Santhanagopalakrishnan.

The images of Sridevi and Bhoodevi are on either side of the idol on the floor.

http://kumbakonamlive.blogspot.in/2010/10/thiruindalur-sri-parimala-renganatha_26.html

Five Forms of Vishnu.

Five forms

In Sri Vaishnavism, another school, Vishnu assumes five forms:

In the Para Form, Para is the highest form of Vishnu found only in Sri Vaikunta also called Moksha, along with his consort Lakshmi, (and Bhuma Devi and Nila devi, avatars of Lakshmi) and surrounded by liberated souls like Ananta, Garuda, and a host of Muktas (liberated souls).
In the Vyuha form, Vishnu assumes four forms, which exercise different cosmic functions and controls activities of living beings.
In the Vibhava form, Vishnu assumes various manifestations, called Vibhavas, more popularly known as Avataras from time to time, to protect the virtuous, punish evil-doers and re-establish righteousness.
In the Antaryami; “Dwelling within” or “Suksma Vasudeva” form, Vishnu exists within the souls of all living beings and in every substance.^[43]
In the Arcavatara or Image manifestation, Vishnu is visible and therefore easily approachable by devotees since Para, Vyuha, Vibhava and Antaryami forms can only be imagined or meditated upon because they are beyond our reach. Such images can be
1. revealed by Vishnu, for example, a self-manifested (Swayambhu) icon (murti), e.g. The Mahavishnu Temple at Tirunelli, The Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple at Srirangam, The Tirumala Venkateswara Temple etc.; or
2. installed by devas or celestial beings such as such as Guruvayur Temple installed by Vayu; or
3. installed by humans, and consecrated according to Vaishnava Agama shastras or scriptures such as Lord Jagannath of Jagannath Temple (Puri) at Puri.^[44]