Thiruvanparisaaram | Sri Kuralappa Perumal Temple | Divya Desams - 077

Temple Location :

This Divyadesam, Thiruvanparisaram is also known as “Thirupathisaram” Thiruvazhmarban Temple

Thiruvazhmarban Temple, also known as Sri Kuralappa Perumal Temple in Thiruppathisaram, a village in Kanyakumari district in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu, is dedicated to the Hindu god Vishnu. Thiruvazhmarban Temple is located about 5 km far, north-easterly to Nagercoil, 20 km far, north-westerly to Kanyakumari and 45 km south-west of Nanguneri Divyadesam. 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–9th centuries AD. It is one of the 108 Divyadesam dedicated to Vishnu, who is worshipped as Thiruvazhmarban and his consort Lakshmi as Kamalavalli. The oldest inscription in the temple is from 1139 AD indicating gifts to the temple. A granite wall surrounds the temple, enclosing all its shrines. The temple tank is located opposite to the temple, outside the main entrance.

Thiruvazhmarban is believed to have appeared to the Saptarishis, the seven sages, and to Udayanangai, the mother of Nammazhwar. The place is the birthplace of Nammazhwar, one of the twelve Azhwar saints in Vaishnava philosophy. The temple follows the Thenkalai tradition of worship. Six daily rituals and many yearly festivals are held at the temple, of which the ten-day Chithirai Brahmotsavam during the Tamil month of Chithirai (April - May), Aadi Swati festival for Kulasekara Azhwar, Navratri during September - October and Vaikunta Ekadasi during Margazhi (December - January) being the most prominent. The temple is maintained and administered by Kanyakumari Devasthanam.

Specials:

1. Periya pirattiyar, who is generally on the right side of the heart of Sriman Narayanan, is found on the left side of this sthala perumal.

2. Banyan tree is found near the Lakshmi Theertham, which is capable of curing diseases and it is also said to be the hamsam of the perumal.

Sthalapuranam :

This Divyadesam, Thiruvanparisaram has a relation with Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka. This place is the birth sthalam of Udaya nangai, mother of Nammalwar. This perumal is worshipped and the pooja is done by the Andhanars of Udupi, in Karnataka.

This sthala perumal, Thirukkuralappan explains about the unity of Saivam and Vaishnavam and explains the Gnana Thathuvam that both these two caste should be considered as one and the Gods should also be considered and worshipped as a single God.

Udayanangai had a great bhakti towards Sriman Naryanan. For 41 days, she fasted towards this sthala perumal and did Ekadasi Vratham and gave birth to Nammalwar in Thirukkurugoor, Azhwar Thirunagari.

Udayanangai’s father's name is also Thiruvaashmarbhan and there was a big maaligai (palace) found in the name of Thiruvaazhmarbhan. But now it is used as Bhajan Mandapan and it is found along the Vaayu side of the temple.

Moolavar:

The Moolavar of this sthalam is Thirukkuralappan. He is also named as “Thiruvaazh maarbhan”.

Moolavar in Veetrirundha (sitting) thirukkolam facing his thirumugham towards East direction.

Pratyaksham for Vindhai, Kaari, Udaya Nangai and Garudan.

Thayaar

The Thayar of this sthalam is Kamala valli Naachiyaar.

Mangalasasanam:

Nammalwar – 1 Paasuram.

Pushkarani:

Lakshmi Theertham.

Vimanam:

Indira Kalyana Vimaanam.

Legend

As per Hindu legend, Saptarishis, the seven sages of Hindu Mythology are believed to have worshipped Vishnu at this place. Vishnu was pleased by their devotion and appeared at this place.

As per another legend, king Kulasekara, who would go on to become Kulashekhara Alwar came to this place after a conquest. His horse was lost and he was in search of the horse. He found that the horse was grazing peacefully on the banks of Soma Theertham, the temple tank. After taking a bath in the tank, he felt rejuvenated worshipping the Vishnu temple in the banks. He is believed to have constructed the temple and named the place as Thiruvanparisaram (pari in Tamil indicates horse). Thiru indicates respect, vazh means live and marban indicates the heart of the person. Since Vishnu held his consort in his heart in this place, he is commonly referred to as Thiruvazhmarban.

History

The exact history of the temple could not be ascertained from the inscriptions. The oldest inscription is dated from 1139 AD, when a person by name Natesan Chetti from Rajendra Cholapattinam offered donations to the temple. Two other inscriptions from the temple are dated 1613 and 1785 indicating record of offerings to the temple. A local historic account states that the famous Nayak king Thirumalai Nayak (1623-59 CE) visited the place and constructed the stepped temple tank. The inscriptions in the temple refer to the place as Thiruvanparisaram.

Architecture

Thiruvazhmarban temple covers an area of about 2 acres (0.81 hectares) and has a five-tiered gopuram (gateway tower). The temple is enclosed in a rectangular enclosure surrounded by granite walls. The central shrine houses the image of the presiding deity, Thiruvazhmarban in sitting posture. There is no separate shrine for his consort Lakshmi as she is believed to reside in his chest. Surrounding the presiding deity, the images of Saptarishis are present. The images of Rama, Lakshmana and Sita are located to the right of the presiding deity. The image of Thiruvazhmarban is made of a compound of lime and granite. The sanctum also houses the images of Vishwaksenara, Kulasekara Azhwar, Nataraja and Sivakami. The festival deity is made of panchaloha and all the ablution related worship practices are done only for festival deity. The shrines of Garuda, Anjaneya, Ramanuja, Vedanta Desika and Azhwars are found in the second precinct. The temple tank, Soma Theertham, is located outside the main shrine. A hall named Kalyana Vimana Mandapa located near the tank houses paintings depicting Dasavatara, the ten avatars of Vishnu.

Religious significance

Thiruvazhmarban temple is revered in Nalayira Divya Prabhandam, the 7th–9th century Vaishnava canon, by Nammazhwar. The temple is classified as a Divyadesam, one of the 108 Vishnu temples that are mentioned in the book. During the 18th and 19th centuries, the temple finds mention in several works like 108 Tirupathi Anthathi by Divya Kavi Pillai Perumal Aiyangar.

As per Hindu legend, Nammazhwar, the most prominent Azhwar saint from the 9th century was born in Thirupathisaram. There are other accounts, which place his birthplace as Thirukurukur (modern day Alwarthirunagari) in the southernmost region of the Tamil country. Some sources consider him to have been a princely family, although of shudra status. It is believed that he was born fully enlightened as the baby he never cried or suckled and never opened his eyes. The child did not respond to any external stimuli and his parents carried him in a golden cradle from Thirupathisaram and left him at the feet of the deity of Sri Adhinathar in Alwarthirunagari. The child got up and climbed into a hole in a tamarind tree, sat in a lotus position, and began to meditate. He was in this state for sixteen years when a Tamil poet and scholar, on his trip to North India, named Madhurakavi Alvar saw a bright light shining to the south, and followed it until he reached the tree where the boy was residing. Madhurakavi asked a divine question on existence to the boy for which he responded that if the soul identifies with the body, it will be the body but if it serves the divine, it will stay in vaikunta and think of God. The boy was named Nammazhwar and he went on to recite verses, which were recorded by Madhurakavi and later went on to be compiled as Nalayira Divya Prabhandam along with the works of other Azhwars.

Religious practises and festivals

The temple follows the traditions of the Thenkalai sect of Vaishnavite tradition and follows Vaikhanasa Agama. In modern times, the temple priests perform the pooja (rituals) during festivals and on a daily basis. Six daily rituals are held at various times of the day and many yearly festivals are held at the temple, of which the ten-day Chithirai Brahmotsavam during the Tamil month of Chithirai (April - May), Aadi Swati festival for Kulasekara Azhwar when he is believed to attain Vaikunta, Navrathri during September - October and Vaikunta Ekadasi during Margazhi (December - January) being the most prominent. There are weekly, monthly and fortnightly rituals performed in the temple. During the Chithirai Brahmotsavam, the festival deities of the temple are taken around the streets of the temple in a chariot drawn by hundreds of devotees.