Thiru Sempon Sei Kovil – Sri Per Arulaalan Perumal Temple, Seergazhi
About the Temple & Location:
This sthalam is also one among the Thirunaangur Divyadesam and lies in Thirunaangur in Tanjore district in Tamil Nadu. It’s about 5 miles away from Seerkazhi. Bus facilities are also available.
This sthalam is called with other names like Hema Rangam, Nagapuri, Nangai Nagaram
Sthala Puranam:
In the Ramayana time, Rama killed Ravana who was a Brahmin. So he was caught by the sin of killing a Brahmin. To get rid of this sin, he came to Rameswaram to worship the Sivalingam made by Sita devi.
Then he came to this place and stayed in the Thrida Nethra Maharishi’s Ashram.
According to his advice, he made a golden cow and stayed upon it for 4 days. Later he donated it to a Brahmin.
The Brahmin sold the gold and constructed this temple. As the gold got from Sri Rama was the reason behind the formation of this temple, this place is called as “Sem Ponn Sei Kovil” where Sem Ponn means pure gold.
Lord Shiva in order to get rid of his Brahmaharthi dhosam performed the Ekadasa Rudhra Ashvametha yagam. When the Yagna was about to complete, Lord shiva had the dharsan of Lord Narayana along with his wives Periya Piratti, Bhoomi Piratti and Nela devi, Lord Brahma and all the devas.
In order to bless Lord Shiva, Lord Narayana took 11 forms in and around Thirunaangur as follow:
Thirukavalampadi Gopalakrishnan along with Rukmani and Satyabama.
Thiruvannpurushothamam Purushothaman along with Purushotama Naayaki.
Thiru Sempon SeiKovil Perarulaalan along with Allimaamalar Naachiyar.
Thirudevanar Thogai Deivanaayagan along with Kadal Magal Naachiyar.
Thiru Mani Koodam Varadharaja Perumal along with Thirumagal Naachiyar and Bhoomi Piratti.
Thiru paarthanpalli Thamarai Kelvan along with Thamarai Naayaki, in standing posture in all the above Kshetrams.
Thirumanimaada kovil Narayana Gyana Nandha Vilaku along with Pundarigavalli.
Thiruvaali Thirunagari Amrudhavalli Vedharajan, Narashimar along with Amrudha Kada valli.
Thiru vaigunda vinnagaram Vaigunda Naadhan along with Periya Piratti.
Arimeya vinnagaram Kudamaadu Koothan along with Amrudha Kada valli, in sitting posture in above 4 Kshetrams.
Thirutheythri Ambalam Shenkann Maal along with Shenkamalavalli, in sleeping posture of the type Bhujanga Sayanam.
Totally 11 forms of which 6 in standing posture, 4 in Sitting posture and finally 1 in sleeping posture.
As an wish of Lord Shiva, Lord Narayana is accompanied by 11 forms of Para Shakthi (Godess) inherting the power of all the 108 Shakthi peedams on those 11 forms inorder to give their devotees Shakthi and Gyana. It’s been said all the above perumals together gets us out of all our dhosams and sins.
As the Lord gives away love generously to his devotees along with Lord Shiva, he is called as Perarulaalan (ie) person of generously. Perarulalan gives wealth to his devotees as Lord Ranganatha, Utsavar is named as Hemarangar and Semponn arangar.
Lord Shiva and Vishnu merging into a sing deity blesses us at all the eleven Thirunaangur Thirupathi’s. The reason behind the formation of the total number of 11 is the Ashtaksha Mandiram “Om Namo Narayanaya” of 8 syllable reduces in to the “Om Narayanaya” mandiram of 6 syllable to combine with Lord Shivas Panchatsaram “Namashivaya” of 5 syllable to give a total of 11 syllables – 11 Thirunaangur thirupathi’s.
To indicate the non ending generosity of Perarulaan even during night time, the Thaayar has the name of Alli (Lilly flower) blooming in night.
In order of respect to the Golden cow of Sri Rama, the Vimaanam is named Kanaka Vimaanam (Kanakam – gold) and Pushkarani Hema Theertham and Kanaka Theertham.
An historical note registered the temple says that once there lived a Brahmin Mukunda elder son of Kashyaba. He chanted the Ashtaksha Mandiram continuously for 32 thousand times here to gain abundant wealth from Perarulaalan and was succeded in his attempt.
Specials:
1. Among the 108 Kshetrams, this is the only Divyadesam were the Perumal itself gave the money to construct his own temple.
2. The Grand Garuda sevai along with the 11 Perumals of Thirunaangur Thirupathi’s.
Moolavar:
The Moolavar of this sthalam is Sri Perarulaalan. Other name are Hema Rangar, Damodharan and Sem Pon Arangar. The Moolavar is in the Nindra (Standing) Thirukkolam facing his thirumugham towards east direction. Prathyaksham for Rudhiran.
Thayaar:
The Thaayar of this sthalam is Allimaamalar Naachiyar.
Utsavar:
The Utsavar found in this sthalam is Sri Hema Rangar.
Mangalasasanam:
Thirumangaialwar – 10 Paasurams.
Total – 10 Paasurams.
Pushkarani:
Nithya Pushkarani.
Vimanam:
Kanaka Valli Vimaanam.
