Ramanisblog

Tag: Vishnu Temples

  • Blood Stained Narasimha Avatar Reenacted Ahobilam

    Ahobilam in Andhra Pradesh( is it Telengana now?),is the place where Lord Vishnu is reported to have slain Hiranyakasipu by taking the Avatar of half man half beast , Narasimha.
    There are nine Narasimhas, Nava Narasimhas in Ahobilam.
    I had written on Ahobilam from the perspective of a visitor so that people may get  travel information .
    But I wanted to examine the history of the temple as this runs contrary to the fact mentioned  in Puranas about Nrusimha Avatar.
    There is a temple in north India,where Narasimha is reported to have slain Hiranyakasipu.
    Why then there is a temple in deep down south of India?

    image

    Puranas do not lie as they are facts and I have found so during my research into Hinduism during the past seven years.
    Neither do the sthalapuranas.
    So I checked facts.
    It comes to light that though the Narasimha Avatar took place in the North, it was re enacted at Ahobilam by Lord Vishnu at the request of Garuda, Lord Vishnu’ s mount.

     

    The Mountain range is called even now as Garudadri.
    This temple enacts the Nrusimha Avatar exactly as it took place earlier even to the minute detail of Vishnu’ s palms being stained with the blood of Hiranyakasipu!

     

     

    ‘ Aho Veeryam Aho Souryarn Aho Bahuparakramah
    Naarasimham Param Daivam Ahobilam Aho Balam.
    The other version is that because of the great cave, the Ahobila, where Garuda worshipped, did penance and realised the lord, the place itself has come to be called Ahobilam. The Ahobilam ‘Kaifiyat’ gives support to this legend. (The Ahobilam Kaifiyat forming part of Mackenzie collections gives very valuable information regarding the Ahobilam temples. Kaifiyats – the digests from ‘Kaviles’ or village registers containing information on the political, social, religious and other conditions of the villages in Deccan were prepared by Pandits and Mussadis working under Col. Mackenzie.) The Ahobilam Kaifiyat is in Telugu and available in the State Archives at Hyderabad (vide “Ahobila Narasimhaswamy temple” – Monograph by P. Sitapati, Commissioner of Archives).
    As per this record, “On one of the mountains in the Nallamalai hills range, eight amadas from Srisaila Kshetra, Garuda commenced silent penance to obtain a vision of Lord Narasimha who destroyed Hiranyakasipu. The Lord in his grace, after long years of the tapas of Garuda, manifested Himself in the cave of a mountain”.
    “Ten ‘Paruvus’ to the north-east of the mountain, where Garuda was doing penance, a vision of His manifestation was then granted to Garuda, who after obtaining a sign of the location of the mountain-cave, gladly traveled thither and saw the embodiment of the Sathsvaroopa,’ Mahapurusha, Lord Jwalanarasimha – not easily accessible to common people. Garuda then worshipped the Lord and praised him that ‘Ahobilam is Mahabalam’ (Ahobilam is a great sustainer with strength). The Lord’s Divya Mangala Vigraha was worshipped by him with several sthotras- Garuda then considered himself as blessed after a vision of the Lord. This divine place thereafter obtained the deserving name of Ahobilam”.
    “The mountain on which Garuda performed tapas became famous as Garudachala. In the days of yore when truth and dharma prevailed, great heat was observable near the mountain- cave of Ahobila; according to legend when green grass was put in the cave, it would catch fire and smoke would be emitted. Several great Rishis lived there for a time; after sometime with the knowledge that great places would become common Janapadas in the Kali age, they left for northern lands, covering up the Narasimha cave with boulders. Traditionally therefore this place is being called the Narasimha Kshetra. There are thus nine Narasimha places, Nava-Narasimhas; Rishi- installed and worshipping areas:
    Jwala Ahobila Malola Kroda Karanja Bhargava
    Yogananda Kshatravata Pavana Nava Moorthayaha.
    The Nine Narasimhasthalas are :- 1. Jwala Narasimha 2. Ahobila Narasimha 3. Malola Narasimha 4. Kroda Narasimha 5. Karanja Narasimha 6. Bhargava Narasimha 7. Yogananda Narasimha 8. Kshatravata Narasimha and 9. Pavana or holy Narasimha.
    …..
    1. BHARGAVA NARASIMHA SWAMY
    The Bhargava Narasimha Swamy is situated at a distance of two kilometres from the Lower Ahobilam, on a hill, near the sacred pond, known as ‘Bhargava Theertham’, where Bhargava Rama performed his penance. Hence the Lord of the temple is known as Bhargava Narasimha Swamy.
    2. YOGANANDA NARASIMHA SWAMY
    This temple is to the south-east of Lower Ahobilam at a distance of 2 kilometres. The popular legend is that after killing Hiranyakasipu, Lord Narasimha taught Prahlada several yogic postures. Therefore, the Lord in this aspect is called Yogananda Narasimha.
    3. CHATRAVATA NARASIMHA SWAMY
    About three kilometres from lower Ahobilam, the image of the deity is installed under a peepal tree, surrounded by thorny bushes. Hence, the Lord is called as Chatravata Narasimha Swamy.
    4. AHOBILA NARASIMHA SWAMY
    The temple, situated on the Upper Ahobilam, at a distance of eight kilometres from the Lower Ahobilam, is the main temple and the earliest of all the nine temples there. The Lord here appears in his fierce aspect, called Ugra Narasimha, who is the presiding deity of the temple and is known as Ahobila Nrisimha Swamy. It is firmly believed the Lord Narasimha was ‘Svayambhu’ (self-manifest) here.
    5. KRODAKARA (VARAHA) NARASIMHA SWAMY
    The temple of this Lord is one kilometre away from the main temple of Ahobila Nrisimha Swamy on the Upper Ahobilam. The image of the deity has the face of a boar (varaha or kroda) and the Lord is seen along with his Consort, Lakshmi. Hence the Lord of the temple is known as Krodakara (Varaha) Narasimha Swamy here.
    6. KARANJA NARASIMHA SWAMY
    This shrine is situated at a distance of one kilometre from the Upper Ahobilam and one furlong from the road leading to Lower Ahobilam. The image of the deity is installed under a tree, called ‘Karanja Vruksham’. Hence this Lord is called Karanja Narasimha Swamy.
    7. MALOLA NARASIMHA SWAMY
    Nearly two kilometres from the main temple of Upper Ahobilam, is the famous shrine of Malola Narasimha Swamy. The deity here appears in ‘soumya’ (graceful) form. As Lord Narasimha is seen with his consort, Lakshmi, He is known as Malola Narasimha Swamy. The word ‘Malola’ means beloved to Lakshmi (Ma=Lakshmi, Lola= beloved). It is said that the ‘utsavamoorthi’ of the Lord appeared to Srimath Adivan Satakopa Jeeyar, the first Jeeyar of Ahobila Mutt. Right from the founder, i.e., the first Jeeyar of Ahobila Mutt down to the 44th pontiff, Srivan Satakopa Sri Vedanta Desika Yatheendra Mahadesika, the present jeeyar, the utsavamoorthi of Malola Narasirnha Swamy is worshipped and it is taken by them whenever they are on religious tours, visiting the villages every year. Recently, the 45th Jeeyar Srivan Satakopa Sri Narayana Yatheendra Mahadesikan has taken over the worship.
    8. JWALA NARASIMHA SWAMY
    The temple of Jwala Nrisimha Swamy, lies higher up the above temple, on a hill called, ‘Achalachaya Meru’. This is about four kilometres from the Upper Ahobilam temple. This place is said to be the actual spot, where the fierce anger of the Lord reached its culmination when he tore Hiranyakasipu.
    9. PAVANA NARASIMHA SWAMY
    Nearby the above temple, is the shrine of Pavana Narasimha, on the banks of the river, Pavana and it is about six kilometres from the Upper Ahobilam temple. Hence the Lord of the shrine is known as Pavana Narasimha Swamy.
    In addition to the shrines mentioned above, there is a famous shrine dedicated to God Narasimha Swamy in the Lower Ahobilam, which is popularly known as Prahlada Varada Sannidhi. The other objects of this place are ‘Ugra Sthambham’ and ‘Prahlada Mettu’.
    (a) UGRA STHAMBHAM
    At a distance of eight kilometres from the Upper Ahobilam temple, we can see a cleft of the mountain dividing it into two visible parts. It is a long-held view that from the cleft, the Lord appeared in the form of Narasimha and this cleft is known as ‘Ugra Sthambham’.
    (b) PRAHALADA METTU
    The small shrine, situated in a cave on the hill, is in between Ugra Sthambham and the Upper Ahobilam. It is dedicated to Prahlada Narashimha Swamy. The image of the Prahlada is installed in a small cave.
    There are a number of holy ‘theerthas’ (water ponds) round this place. Of these, Rakthakundam is the most important. It is stated that Lord Narasirnha after killing the demon Hiranyakasipu, washed his hands in this ‘theertham’ and hence the water is still reddish in appearance. (History of the cult of Narasimha in Andhra Pradesh by Dr. M. Narasimhacharya).
    Citation and references.

    http://www.ahobilamutt.org/us/information/visitingahobilam.asp

    Image credits.
    http://www.tirthayatra.org/ahobilam/

    http://nirushiman.blogspot.in/p/ahobhilam-also-known-as-ahobalam-is.html?m=1

  • Become Invisible In Pond Thiruvellarai Oldest Vishnu Temple

    There are a few places in India which are reported to be quiet ancient, some of them to Billion years!
    And these have been dated scientifically.
    For example Thiruvannamalai 3.94 billion years, Thirupati 2100 million years.
    Please read my posts on these places and more places similar to them.
    And now there is an addition to this list.

    image

    The Temple for Vishnu at Srirangam ,is reported to be built by Rama,though many state that it was built earlier.
    This period belongs to Treta Yuga, some 4,32,000 ago according to Indian Texts.
    Historical dating of Lord Rama is around 5114 BC.
    We may safely state that Srirangam belongs to 5114 BC, if not earlier.
    References are found in Indian Texts that there is another temple which was built earlier by Lord Rama’s ancestor, King Sibi.
    The same Sibi is mentioned as the one who parted with his Flesh to feed a Dove.
    This has been mentioned in Tamil Sangam Literature, which is dated around 3000 BC.
    But  the date of Sangam literature is pushed back by at least by 20,000 subsequent finding of the ruins of Poompuhar,Tamil Nadu.
    Poompuhar’s period was much later than Sangam period!
    The Tamil Cholas are referred to as the descendants of Ikshvaku Clan,to which Lord Rama belonged.
    So the refernce to a temple earlier to that of Srirangam gains credibility.
    The Temple of Pundarikaksha(Vishnu) is mentioned in Sangam Classics and also referred to in King Rajaraja’s inscriptions.

    image

    Rajaraja built the Thanjavur Big Temple.
    He belongs to 1039 AD.
    The place where the temple is was called Thiruvellarai. Even now it is called so.
    Thiruvellarai is about 19 km from Srirangam and bus facilities are available.
    Nearest Airport.  Thiruchirapalli.
    Railway Station. Thiruchirapalli/Srirangam.
    It is recorded in Srimad Bhagavadham that Rakshsas of the South,Rakshasa being a powerful race mostly settled in now sunk Lemuria, were inciting rebellion in the south of King Sibi’s Kingdom.
    Sibi proceeded with his army to annihilate the Rakshasas but was thwarted by a wild Boar(Swetha Varaha, an Avatar of Lord Vishnu).
    Sage Markandeya who was in meditation there advised Sibi that Sibi’s descendent (Rama)would take care of the Rakshasas and Sibi should build  temple for Vishnu and have His darshan.
    This Sibi did and this is the Thiruvellarai temple.
    Temple timings. 6 to 12 noon. 4 pm to 8 pm.
    Contact. SRI Kannan +91 8760732566
    As the Bhattars in charge of pooja perform duties by turn I have provided the permanent staff  number at the temple

    The Main Deity is Pundaikakshan( Lotus eyed Vishnu).
    ‘ Goddess: Shenbagavalli, also called as Periya Piraattiyaar Lakshmi Devi. Seperate sannadhi for Thaayar. Utsavar thaayar is named as Pangajavalli.
    Mangalasasanam: Periyalwar – 11, Thirumangai Alwar – 13, a total of 14 Paasurams. Perialwar – 71, 192 – 201, Thirumangaialwar – 1368-77, 1851, 2673, 2674
    Prathyaksham for Periya Thiruvadi Garudan, Sibi chakravarthy, Bhoodevi (Bhoomi Piratti), Maarkandeya Maharishi, Lord Brahma, Rudhran (Lord Shiva).
    Sri Pundarikakshan, Bhoomi Piratti, Periya piratti, Suriya and Chandiran and Aadisheshan are in human forms in the Moolavar Place.
    Other shrines: Krishna, Vishwaksenar, Nammazhwar, Chakarathazhwar, Nadhamunigal, Kulasekara Azhwar, Thondarippodi Azhwar, Andal, Ramanuja and Manavala Mamunigal.
    At the very entrance are the 18 steps reminding one of the 18 chapters of Bhagvat Gita given to us byPundareekakshan.
    After this, one comes across 4 steps that are considered equal to the 4 Vedas to reach the Bali Peetam.
    From here, one enters the Perumal sannidhi by ascending 5 steps representing the PanchaBhoothams (Fire, Water, Space, Air and Earth) and crossing theNaazhi Kettaan Vasal.
    Here there are 2 gates Dakshinaayana Gate and Utharaayana Gate which are alternately used during the Dakshinayana/ Utharayana 6 month periods.
    One climbs further 8 steps remind one of Ashtaaksharam
    Thereafter one comes to the 24 steps reminding one of Gayathri Mantram to arrive at the sanctum sanctorum,where Senthaamarai Kannan (Pundareekaakshan) stands with His consort Pankayacchelvi Naacchiyaar.
    Legend has it that all the Vaishnavas who perform daily poojas in temples in south are originally from Thiruvellarai.
    The sanctum sanctorum has two entrances namely Utharayana Gate and the Dakshinayana Gate as in the Sarangapani temple at Kumbakonam. Utharayana Gate is open from the Tamil month of Thai (Capricorn) until the month of Aadi (Cancer), i.e., from Jan 15 to June 15 approximately and from then on, the Dakshinayana Gate is open.
    In the human life, there are two separate entrances, one for entering into the life and the other for exiting out of it. We would be able to feel the presence of Paramaathma in both – while entering into the life and while exiting out of it. The two gates represnt this. The Utharayana Gate is the entrance through which all the Jeevathmas enter into the world as a human-being or as a non human-being and is the place of “Lord Guberan”, the God of wealth. The Dhakshinayana Gate is the entrance to the death and it is the place of Lord Yama, the king of Naragam. The Lord is ‘Suriya Narayanan’ during Utharayanam and is ‘Govindan’ during Dakshinayanam.
    Apart from Utharayana and Dakshinayana Gates, the sanctum sanctorum has one more entrance called ‘Naazhi Kettaan Vaayil’ where it is believed that the Lord was intercepted and questioned by his consort, upon his returning home later, after his sojourn. Even today, during the festivals, after completing the trip outside, Perumal has to account for his time to his consort by informing the time he started, the places he visited etc., at this gate in order to gain entry into the temple.
    A Temple tank Swastik Kulam (pond) or Maamiyaar -Maattu Penn (Mother in law – Daughter in law) 3, maintained by Archeological Survey of India (ASI) is outside the temple on the south-eastern side. The Swasthik shape of the tank makes it possible that people bathing at one ghat cannot view any other ghat. There are beautiful sculptures in the pillars above the steps.


    In front of big pillar in this temple, when we make any sound, it replicates and echo around the temple in the inner prakaram. Because of this, some of the paasurams in Divyapprabhandhams are recited for 2-3 times.
    There are two cave temples in the rocks, one of them belongs to the period of `Pallava Malla’ Nandivarman II and another belongs to the period of Rajaraja 1. There is another cave temple carved out of a rock known as Swedhagiri where Lord Siva, known as `Vada Jambunathar’ and Pundarikaksha are enshrined.

    I have noticed that as one enters the Artha Mandapa,one can feel a cool breeze blowing ,though the temperature outside makes one sweat and there is no source for the cool air inside.

    Thiruvellarai Brief detailshttps://youtu.be/_Jpwu1m2An8

    Citation and reference.
    https://shanthiraju.wordpress.com/2007/10/24/thiruvellarai/

    Thiruvellarai Pundarikaksha temple.

  • Salagrama Descends Thirunavaya Dwapara Yuga Nava Mukunda

    There is only one River which bears the name of Bharata.

    It is Bharathapuzha in Kerala.

    Considered to be a Holy river on par with the Ganges, this river boasts of a rare Vishnu Temple where Nine Yogis worshiped Lord Vishnu.

    Thurnavaya Bala Mukunda Temple.Image.jpeg
    Thurnavaya Nava Mukunda Temple.

    In pasurams of Tirumangaialwar and Nammalwar, Thirunavaya is refered as Thirunavai, Lord Vishnu as Sree Nava Mukunda Perumal and Thayar (Mahalakshmi) as Malar Mangai Naachiyaar or Sirudevi.

    Legend:

    The nine spiritually enlightened sons of ‘Hrishabha’, the King of Ayodhya, known as ‘Navayogis’ (Nine ascetics), were constant travelers. During their sojourn, they reached the confluence of the rivers ‘Bagmathi’ and ‘Gantaki’ from where the eldest son, Kavi, got a Salagrama of Vishnu. Salagramas are stones found in the Gantaki river basin in Nepal, with special marks like spiral, chakras, thread, etc. formed on them and considered as sacred with the presence of God Vishnu. “Install this Salagrama at the most holy place for the welfare of mankind”, Kavi heard an ‘asareeri’ ( the divine prompting voice).

    Kavi travelled all over India in search of the befitting place for the installation of the salagrama and placed it on the north bank of Bharatappuzha at Thirunavaya, where Vishnu himself, whom the salagrama represented, had stayed during a ‘Yaga’ conducted by Brahma on the South bank. Kavi left the place complacent that his duty was over, but the salagrama sank into the earth. Then his seven brothers brought other salagramas of Vishnu and repeated the process and these also sank deep into the earth.

    At last, the youngest of the brothers, Karabhajanan, came to the same place and knew of the futile attempts of his brothers. He knew that this happened because, the proper rituals that should have been performed at the time of the installation were not performed. He installed the Salagrama, as Mukunda bestowing ‘Moksha’ to the departed souls with all necessary rituals. This time the installation was successful. Later these nine brothers (Navayogis) came to this place and performed a ‘Yaga’ (or ‘Yajna’, meaning ‘ritual of sacrifice’) for the appeasement of the gods and the welfare of the people. The place was thus known as ‘Tirunavayogi’, in memory of the nine brothers, and the word transformed, as time passed, to the present form ‘Thirunavaya’.

    This temple, ‘The Navamukunda Temple’ is one of the oldest Vishnu temples in Kerala. It dates back to the last period of the ‘Dwaapara Yuga’.The main daily offerings for worship are Ney Vilakku (lamp lighted with ghee), Thaamara maala ( Lotus garlands) and Paal paayasam (Porridge/Dessert or Kheer made of rice cooked in sweetened milk). For unhindered availability of lotus flowers, one of the Maharajas of Travancore had constructed a vast pond of lotus plants nearby, and donated it to this temple.’

    Besides the Navamukunda (Vishnu) which is the main deity of the temple, there are two other deities in the Temple: Aadi Ganesa and Sree Mahalakshmi..

    Pitru  Tharpana.

    Parasurama (one of the incarnations of Vishnu) is believed to have come here to perform Tharpanam (ritual offerings for the dead) for the souls of the thousands of Kshatriyas he had killed. Because of this, Tirunavaya is considered as one of the most sacred place for conducting rituals for the dead .

    There are several rituals prescribed for the dead. Adiyanthiram, which falls on the 11th day, 16th day or 41st day of death, Sraardham (death anniversary) and Kshethrapindam in which a silver idol into which the soul of the dead is made to enter is brought to the temple as offering after the first anniversary of death, etc are some of the rituals. ‘Bali tharpanam’ is usually performed with Darbha (a type of long grass), Pavithram (ring made of Darbha grass), Ellu (sesame), cooked Rice, Flowers, Sandal paste, Water, etc placed on Banana leaves. An elderly person who knows rituals or a priest leads the ceremonies. Most Hindus of Kerala perform this on the Vavu (no-moon day) in the month of Karkidakam (Zodiac Sign of Cancer) as an ancestral worship or as offering of prayers for the departed souls of their ancestors.

    The Pithru tharpanam on Karkkidaka Vaavu is considered as most sacred and important as this Vaavu is very near to the starting period of ‘Dakshinayanam’ (‘going South’ or the starting of the movement of the sun in the southward direction).

    Contact Details.

    K. PARAMESWARAN
    Executive officer
    Thirunavaya Devaswom
    Thirunavaya Nava Mukunda Temple
    Thirunavaya PO
    Malappuram District, Kerala, India
    PIN : 676 301
    Phone : 0494 – 2603747
    91 – 9446631453E-mail : navamukundatemple@gmail.com, info@thirunavayatemple.org

    Airport.Cochin.

    Railway Station. Tirur.

    Citation.

    http://thirunavayatemple.org/

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  • Where Vishnu Handed Over Amirtha, Nectar Thirukadavur Amirtha Narayana

    Sometimes,, when many temples are present in a city, all equally significant, as in Kumbakonam, many miss some temples because one temple is quite popular.

    This is true of Thirukadavur where Goddess Abhirami is famous , as is Amirthakadeswarar, the place where Abhirami Andhadi was born and people have their Shashtiaptha poorthi celebrated.

    Thirukadavur Amirthanarayana Perumal temple.Image.jpg
    Thirukadavur Amirthanarayana Perumal Temple Image Credit.http://www.agasthiar.org/a/amrita.htm

    What people are not aware is the fact is that this place is where Lord Vishnu cut the head  of an Asura who sought Amirtha  and the body parts became Rahu and Ketu, two shadow Planets.

    Rahu and Ketu in Amirthanarayana Perumal Temple,Thirukadavur.image,jpg
    Rahu and Ketu in Amirthanarayana Perumal Temple,Thirukadavur

    It is lLocated 100yards south of the renowned Thiru Amirtha Kadeswarar -Abhirami temple is the ancient Amirtha Narayana Perumal temple in Thiru Kadaiyur, whose legend dates back to the churning of nectar and distribution to the Devas. Bala Anjaneya is a highlight here at this temple, which is entirely of ‘brick’ construction.

    Moolavar        : Amirtha Narayana Perumal in a Grand Sitting Posture

    Goddess           : Amirtha Valli Thaayar

    Time                : 8am-1pm

    Contact            : Rangaraja Bhattar @ 75983 80204(check phone number)

    How to reach.

    Airport.Tiruchi.

    Railway Station.Mayiladhturai,Kumbakonam.

    Bus station. Kumbakonam, Mayiladuthurai.

    Thiru Kadaiyur is 20kms from Mayiladuthurai / Sirkazhi. Take Tharangambadi bound bus via Akkur cross road to reach the temple. Auto from Thiru Kadaiyur bus stand will cost Rs. 40.

    Legend.

    With the churning of the Nectar, Lord Narayana was all set to hand over the nectar to the Devas here at Thiru Kadaiyur but to his surprise the nectar disappeared and turned into a Shiva lingam (Amirtha Kadeswarar). Lord Narayana sought the permission of Goddess Abhirami (his sister) to help secure the nectar from Thiru Kadeswarar.  She appeared before him here at Thiru Kadaiyur and helped devas regain their powers.

    While the Devas received the nectar from Lord Narayana here at the Amirtha Pushkarani, an asura too secretly picked it up only to be struck down by Lord Amirtha Narayanan. Having consumed the nectar, the asura did not die but had his body cut into two pieces – Rahu and Kethu. In memory of this event, they are seen here together in a separate sannidhi – a special feature at this temple. This is said to be a parikara sthalam for liberation from Rahu-Kethu dosham.

    The Temple needs renovation.

    Citation.

    http://prtraveller.blogspot.in/2014/06/thiru-kadaiyur-amirtha-narayana-perumal.html

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  • Garuda Vishnu’s Mount Increases Weight Every Stage Nachiyar Koil

    There are quite a few strange things/events associated with Hindu Temples in India.

    There are Temples where Snake comes and offers pooja to Shiva, Sun bathes Idols on a specific day,temple emerges from the sea at a fixed Time,where Crows do not fly over the temple Tower..the list goes on.

    Scroll down for Video.

    Kal Gaudan in Procession,Nachiyar Koil.Image.jpg
    Kal Gaudan in Procession,Nachiyar Koil, Tamil Nadu Image credit The Hindu http://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/history-and-culture/unique-drama-unfolds-during-procession/article4244915.ece

    Now add one more to this list.

    During street procession (Margazhi and Panguni),  English Month December,an unbelievable event takes place at the Nachiyar Koil. While only 4 people carry Lord Garuda out of his Sannidhi, as the Lord goes out of each Layer and prakaram, he is said to increase in weight, that 8 people, 16 and then 32 people are required to carry Lord Garuda out of the temple. Finally, when the Lord is taken outside the temple, Garuda increases in weight so much that 128 people are required to carry the Lord. On his way back, it is said that Garuda mount decreases in weight and finally when he is back in the Sannidhi, only 4 people are required to carry him.

     

    This happens every year.

    Nachiar Kovil or Thirunarayur Nambi Temple in Thirunarayur, a village in the outskirts of Kumbakonam in the South Indian state ofTamil Nadu, is dedicated to the Hindu god Vishnu and his wife Lakshmi. Constructed in the Dravidian style of architecture, the temple is glorified in the Divya Prabandha, the early medieval Tamil canon of the Azhwar saints from the 6th to 9th centuries AD. It is one of the 108 Divyadesam dedicated to Vishnu, who is worshipped as Srinivasa Perumal and his consort Lakshmi as Nachiyar. The temple is the place where god Vishnu is believed to have initiated Pancha Samskara (religious initiation) to Thirumangai Azhwar. The temple follows Thenkalai mode of worship.

    The temple is believed to have been built by Kochengat Cholan of the late 3rd century AD, with later contributions from Medieval Cholas and Vijayanagar kings.

    This is the 71st Temple built by Kochengat Cholan, the first Temple for Vishnu, the other 70 Temples having been built for Lord Shiva.

    Legend.

    The sage Medhavi was doing penance at this place. While taking a bath in the river, he found an image ofChakrathazhwar entwined with Yoga Narasimha. A divine voice asked him to install the image in his hermitage and worship it. The goddess Lakshmi, the consort of Vishnu chose to grow in the hermitage and appeared to the sage in the form of a small girl and requested him to take care of her. Vishnu traveled in search of Lakshmi on his vehicle Garuda, the eagle. Garuda found the presence of Lakshmi in the hermitage. Vishnu appeared to Medhavi, pleased by the latter’s devotion and asked his daughter to be married to him. The sage happily married Lakshmi to Vishnu and requested him to stay in his place, which Vishnu accepted.There is another local legend that king Kochengat Cholan was once defeated and he was advocated to seek the blessings of Vishnu, which he obliged.

    Prominence to Goddess.

    Nachiyar Koil is one of the few Divyadesams where the goddess has prominence over Vishnu. Some of the other temples where the such female dominance are observed areAndal Temple at Srivilliputhur, Azhagiya Manavala Perumal Temple at Woraiyur and Pundarikakshan Perumal Temple in Thiruvellarai. While Srivilliputhur is called Nachiyar Thiru Maaligai, Thirunaraiyur is called Nachiyar Koil.[2]

    Vishnu was of the view that during Kali Yuga, men would have to listen to women. Hence he decided that he would first set an example and listen to goddess here. During all festive occasions, the first rights are reserved for Nachiyar, who moves ahead, while Srinivasa follows her. Even the food is first served to Nachiyar and then to Srinivasa. Being a temple where goddess has prominence, Vishnu is located slightly by the side and goddess has the prominent position inside the sanctum.

    How to Reach Nachiyar Koil and Temple Timings

    Nearest Airport. Tiruchi,Tamil Nadu.

    Railway Station.Kumbakonam.

    Bus Station,.Kumbakonam. Nachiyar Koil is called Thirunaraiyur.

    It is eight Km from Kumbakonam.Buseses are available.

    Deity            : Thiru Naraiyur Nambi, Srinivasa Perumal Standing Posture facing East
    Goddess       : VanjulaValli
    Azhvaar       : Thirumangai Azhvaar-110 verses
    Temple time : 630am –12.30pm and 430pm-830pm
     Contact      : Gopinathan Bhattar@ 94435 97388 / 0435 2467167( Check the Mobile number)
    Bus : Buses every 15minutes from Kumbakonam (Tiruvarur bound). Auto from Kumbakonam Railway Station will cost Rs. 200/-
    Citation.